Found your website. It’s pretty cool seeing a list of Chapin concerts. I saw him solo at Monmouth arts center, Red Bank, NJ on 7/26 or 27/77. I was about eight so my memories are a little faded. I do remember that he was extremely late and came rushing through the front door to back stage and he finally came out.
I met him when I was seven, before a concert at Brookdale Community College, Lincroft, NJ on 10/29/76. My mom worked at the college, so she pulled a few strings and we got to a press conference. There were about 15 people there. So I got a real good picture with him, and an autograph that read.
“to Jason
a great name
keep the change
Harry Chapin”
Unfortunately, I lost that autograph like a year later when we moved. I saw him every year he came to the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel. I was supposed to see him on 7/19/81 at Holmdel, but of course it never happened. I wish we kept the tickets!
In august of 99, me and my fiancee at the time, visited Harry at his grave. I thought I would have trouble finding it, being in an unfamiliar town and all, but my spirit was strong and I was drawn right to it. I mean it stuck out like a sore thumb.
So, I did what any Chapin fan would do, I left some change near the rock and wrote him a note:
“to Harry
a great name
keep the change
Jason Colannino.”
I play music all over south Florida, and every night I play Chapin music. I just started www.jasoncolannino.com and I put some Chapin links on it.
So that’s my story. If I ever get a scanner, I’ll send you guys my picture of me & Harry.
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