Honoring Harry Chapin at Eisenhower Park

Three decades have passed since Harry Chapin’s tragic death on the Long Island Expressway on his way to a performance in Eisenhower Park in July 1981. That concert that he intended to give now takes place in the form of an annual tribute, featuring a slate of local musicians and bands, on Monday, July 18 – two days after the actual anniversary of his death – at the theater in Eisenhower Park that bears his name.
“Just Wild About Harry,” now in its seventh year, continues to be organized by singer-songwriter Stuart Markus, of Malverne. Markus is joined by many members of Long Island’s folk music community, including his trio, Gathering Time. Scheduled to appear are Doc Butler & JC Cob, Josh Joffen, Debra Lynne & Chris Tursi, Russ Seeger, MediaCrime, Christine Solimeno, Frank Walker,  Rough Folk, Judith Zweiman, Martha Trachtenberg, Doug Kwartler, Cecilia Kirtland & Robin Greenstein, Kendall & Korb, and Ed Ryan, along with newcomers to the show, Grand Folk Railroad and noted children’s performer Patricia Shih.
Long Island’s music community has rallied behind Markus to keep Chapin’s music and philanthropic mission in the public eye. “We have an ever-expanding rotating group of singer-songwriters who want to honor an outstanding musician and Long Islander,” Markus said.
Markus and his cadre of participating musicians continue to find new meaning in Chapin’s works. “It’s wonderful to see how the Long Island folk community has embraced him,” said Markus. “The opportunity to hear his music played live means a lot.”

This year’s concert has a special impact for Markus. “It’s hard to believe it’s 30 years,” he said. “I was in high school just becoming familiar with his songs, beyond the hits, when I found out he was dead. It was such a shame, not only because of his musical talent, but because of all the good works he did, and then all of a sudden he was gone.”
It is in that spirit that Markus has revived the Chapin songbook in the form of this yearly concert. “It’s as if the Long Island community comes together to give the concert he had meant to,” Markus said.
The audience will hear 18 of Chapin’s story songs, ranging from classics like “Cat’s In the Cradle” and “Taxi” to lesser-known numbers like “WOLD,” “Flowers are Red” and “Jubilation.” Along with those aforementioned two big hits, Markus likes to give what he calls the “obscure” songs a hearing for Chapin’s fans. “It is a mix that has developed over the past few years,” Markus said. Each performer offers a uniquely personal interpretation of Chapin’s songs. They are given the opportunity to treat Chapin’s songs as if they were their own, whether in the form of making slight changes to harmonies or the beat. “You get a better performance from someone who is connected to a song,” Markus noted. “The results have been some really creative treatments and performances.”
The evening highlights Long Island Cares, the food bank Chapin founded in 1980 that aims to relieve hunger on Long Island. The concert continues Chapin’s work to help the needy, with a food drive in tribute to Chapin’s efforts on behalf of the hungry. Over the years, the concert has raised more than three tons of food and several thousand dollars for the nonprofit organization.
“All these years after Harry Chapin’s death, the need to fight hunger is still as urgent as ever,” said Markus, who encourages everyone attending to bring canned goods and other non-perishable food items, for distribution to needy Long Islanders through Long Island Cares. “We want everyone to come and enjoy the show,” said Markus. “All we continue to ask is that people bring food to help people that Harry wanted to help.”
As always, the show concludes with “Circle,” performed by the entire group. “That was Chapin’s traditional closing and we want to keep that tradition going,” Markus said. “It’s a celebration of the continuity of life. And through this concert we can continue what he started. Harry is a shining example of someone who used his celebrity do good for humanity.”
The concert is one of the most popular events of the season at Eisenhower Park, with approximately 3,000 people attending each year. Guests should bring their own lawn chairs or picnic blankets to the park. The event is scheduled rain or shine.
A concert by the Chapin family, including brothers Tom and Steve, daughter Jen and two of his nieces (who perform as The Chapin Sisters), will be held two nights before, on Saturday, July 16, at Heckscher Park in Huntington.

‘Just Wild About Harry’
Monday, July 18, 7:30 p.m.
Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park, East Meadow.
Contact (516) 572-0200 or the special events line at (516) 572-0223 for
urther information.