ahs@houxu.UUCP (Arthur Steinman) (06/04/85)
With all the recent talk on the net about Harry and his driving I would like to say a few words on his behalf. I had the distinct pleasure of working for Harry Chapin and World Hunger Year from 1976 to 1977. I sold T-shirts, programs and books of Harry's poetry at the concerts around the country, mostly with the full band but many times Harry would agree to do a solo concert strictly for charity and I would sell there, too. I took the proceeds and had a bank check made out to World Hunger Year, which I then turned over to Harry's accounting firm. Harry tried to do as many charity gigs as he did paying gigs each year. I am convinced that his untimely death was due to his fatal attempt to be in two places at the same time. He would commit to appearances in places several hundred miles apart on the same day, often within hours of each other. As a result he was always getting speeding tickets and had his license suspended many times and, finally, revoked. He seemed oblivious to this rather serious problem and continued to drive at maniacal speed. I remember driving to a gig in Alabany with Harry. At the time the guys in the band didn't tell me about his performance behind the wheel and they got a great kick out of it when I arrived in Albany, shaking like a leaf and kissing the ground. "Never let Harry drive" became the watchword after that. Those of us that worked for Harry were convinced that, although he would never admit it, Harry wanted to get into politics. He had a Kennedy-like charisma about him, but sadly, it seems he also had a Kennedy-like karma. Don't get me wrong here. I don't think that Harry should be chastised for these shortcomings. nor do I think he should be a candidate for sainthood. He was just a man who burnt his candle at both ends, and eventually, his candle burnt out. It's fortunate that he didn't take anyone with him when he went. I remember thinking that he was indestructable. He seemed larger than life with apparently limitless energy. Unfortunately, I think he began to believe that, too. I would say "Rest in peace, Harry," but knowing him, wherever he is, he surely isn't resting. He always has too much to do. Art Steinman