Long Island Music & Entertainment Hall of Fame to Host Film Screening and Q&A Panel Honoring Legendary Long Island Songwriter and Activist Harry Chapin May 6th at 2pm
“When in Doubt, Do Something” Features Exclusive Interviews with LIMEHOF Inductees Billy Joel, Darryl ‘DMC McDaniels, Pat Benatar.
STONY BROOK, NY- The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (LIMEHOF) will hold a special film screening and charity food drive event 2pm on May 6th at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame (97 Main Street, Stony Brook, NY) featuring the documentary film Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something which celebrates the extraordinary life and activism of LIMEHOF inductee singer songwriter Harry Chapin from Huntington Bay.
The film screening will start at 2:00pm and seating is very limited. The Q&A will begin at 3:45 in the main exhibit room with additional seating. People are free to attend the Q&A, even if they don’t see the film. To purchase admission ticket in advance please visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/tickets-and-gift-cards/
While most people know Chapin for his music, including his classic song “Cat’s in the Cradle”, LIMEHOF is on a mission to educate the public about the significant legacies of its inductees who often contributed much more than is commonly known to the community and world around us.
Chapin, who was inducted into LIMEHOF in 2006, is an excellent example as someone who was involved with a wide range of charity organizations including co-founding WhyHunger in 1975 and Chapin also founded Long Island Cares in 1980. Today the organization is headquartered in Hauppauge, NY with food pantry locations throughout Nassau and Suffolk Counties including Freeport, Lindenhurst, Huntington Station, and Hampton Bays.
The event is free with the purchase of a general admission ticket. The Q&A portion with the filmmakers will be hosted by LIMEHOF Vice Chairman and the longtime host of the Sounds of Film Radio Show Tom Needham.
“This remarkable documentary showcases Chapin’s unmatched musical contributions, as well as his steadfast dedication to addressing hunger,” Needham said. “Chapin’s life and career serve as a testament to the ability of music and advocacy to bring about positive change in the world.”
The event is also part charity food drive as there will be collection boxes and LIMEHOF is asking that attendees bring food donations for Harry Chapin’s Long Island Cares organization whose CEO Paule Pachter is featured in the film and will be participating as a panelist.
“I always believed that at some time in our history that there would be a documentary film made about Harry’s life and dedication towards ending hunger which was his passion during his short life of 38 years,” Pachter said. “Newsday named Harry one of the most important Long Islanders of the 20th Century. His passion towards ending hunger along with performing half of his annual concerts to raise funds to address hunger and food insecurity has been recognized many times since his passing in 1981, and many schools reference Harry when discussing hunger, poverty, and social justice. I was honored to be asked to be a part of the film to discuss the founding of Long Island Cares and how we work to continue his legacy.”
Also, members of the Chapin family are expected to attend including Harry Chapin’s son Jason, who was a producer on the film will also be there to participate in the panel.
“My family is thrilled the LIMEHOF inducted my father in 2006 and is having a special showing of the Harry Chapin documentary,” said Jason Chapin. “We’re also very thankful to those who are able to attend the event and donate to the Long Island Cares food drive.”
As a dedicated humanitarian, Chapin fought to end world hunger. He was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977. In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work. That medal is currently on display along with other Harry Chapin artifacts at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.
For more information about LIMEHOF and upcoming events visit https://www.limusichalloffame.org/museum/
About When in Doubt, Do Something
The documentary, released in 2020, was directed by Rick Korn and released by Greenwich Entertainment and follows the renowned GRAMMY-nominated folk singer from childhood – spent under the shadow of his jazz drummer father – throughout his tragically short life and captures the up-and-down spirit of one of folk’s great humanitarians.
Told through archival footages and new interviews, When In Doubt, Do Something explores key moments in Chapin’s life, including performing with his brothers and working on the Academy Award-nominated documentary Legendary Champions, to his solo success with hits like “Taxi,” “W.O.L.D.” and “Cat’s In The Cradle” and his tireless philanthropic work, which included his efforts with WhyHunger and a seemingly endless run of benefit performances, all of which led to him being posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal. This documentary paints a new picture of the singer-songwriter who used his fame as a launching point to help others and influence politics. It features testimonials from Chapin’s family (including Tom Chapin and Steve Chapin), as well as peers including Billy Joel, Bruce Springsteen, Pete Seeger, Kenny Rogers, Robert Lamm (Chicago), Darryl “DMC” McDaniels, Pat Benatar, Bob Geldof, Ken Kragen, longtime bassist John Wallace, and WhyHunger co-founder Bill Ayres.
The film was produced by Korn, S.A. Baron, and Chapin’s son, Jason Chapin.
About Harry Chapin
Harold Forster Chapin (December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer-songwriter, philanthropist, and hunger activist best known for his folk rock and pop rock songs. He achieved worldwide success in the 1970s. Chapin, a Grammy Award-winning artist and Grammy Hall of Fame inductee.
Harry Chapin sold over 16 million records, had 14 hit singles, and garnered two GRAMMY nominations. In 1977 he was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger. In 1986, he was posthumously awarded the GRAMMY President’s Merit Award. He was inducted into the Long Island Music Hall of Fame in 2006 and the GRAMMY Hall of Fame in 2011.
Chapin recorded a total of 11 albums from 1972 until his death in 1981. All 14 singles that he released became hits on at least one national music chart.
As a dedicated humanitarian, Chapin fought to end world hunger. He was a key participant in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977. In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work. That medal is on display along with other Harry Chapin artifacts at the Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame.