Harry Forster Chapin (December 7, 1942 – July 16, 1981) was an American singer and songwriter known for his folk rock songs "Taxi," "W*O*L*D," and the number-one hit "Cat's in the Cradle" as well as his masterful folk musical based on the biblical book of John, "Cotton Patch Gospel." Chapin was also a dedicated humanitarian who fought to end world hunger, with his work being widely recognized as a key player in the creation of the Presidential Commission on World Hunger in 1977.Harry Chapin: The Gold Medal Collection, album notes, Elektra/Asylum Records, 1988. In 1987, Chapin was posthumously awarded the Congressional Gold Medal for his humanitarian work.

Early life and education

Chapin was born in New York City, the second of four children—including future musicians Tom and Steve—born to Jeanne Elspeth (née Burke) and Jim Chapin. He had English ancestry, his great grandparents having emigrated in the late 19th century. His parents divorced by 1950, with Elspeth keeping custody of their four sons, as Jim spent much of his life on the road as a drummer for Big Band era acts such as Woody Herman. She married National Films in Review magazine editor Henry Hart a few years later.