I still call into the radio station and request Harry's songs and every time without fail the D.J.'s play them even after all of these years. WE STILL REMEMBER AND LOVE YOU HARRY! RIP
The great incomperable Big John Wallace did his heartfelt "Last Stand" which I played three times today. The loss of Harry and the fabulous band permanently left a vacancy in my soul. As a purveyor of tunes myself the loss has left a deep void except for Harry's lyrics that lives on unabated!!! As in my poem Harry C I gave to Tom in Clearwater " Say hey to the Lord for me and tell 'em He was right bout a number of things including dying anytime in boots and blue jeans".
John "Big John" Wallace grew up with Harry and was always a part of his band. Big John is/was only about 5'10, but he weighed in at around 220, and he moved kinda slow and sturdy and gave off the appearance of a tough guy when he needed to be. He had a five octave (he said only 4) range, and was by far the greatest singer in Harry's band. He could sing so high and he could sing so low. That is Tom and Steve Chapin on the left who are singing along with Big John. Steve Chapin has his own band, and Big John still joins him often.
Thank you so much for posting this. It's hard to explain to folks how much I miss Harry; he was always sweet and kind to all of us who came to meet him, but I was one of many. Even so, when he died it was like losing a favorite uncle or a dear friend too seldom seen. And Big John knocked this one out of the park.
There's something so special so magical about hearing big john sing this song. I've listened to it hundreds of times. I know this sounds crazy but I some how feel Harry wrote it for John to sing on this occasion.
Thanks for posting great videos heard about this while watching one of his documentaries was amazed to see the full special on UA-cam watched it last night in full during a snowstorm when the live Parts with Harry from Canada came on oh my God the snowflakes just started getting bigger and bigger it's like he was there and it was f****** crazy how music carries Through The Years thank you Harry thank you Chapins And thank you Big John Wallace got interested in Harry when my mom who is 73 heard me playing w o l d and she said A friend of mine asked me to go see Harry in Hartford Connecticut but she didn't go I guess when you listen to the media you make a decision I think it's you went she would have been a fan for life she still is tho
Saw Harry and the band a few times in Toronto, Ontario Place and the last time at the Royal Alex great artist and humanitarian with a hell of a band especially you Big John what I wouldn't give to see him singing one more time!
Steve, Steve Chapin still performs with The Harry Chapin Band and every August they sing @The Ovens Natural Park, Riverport, NS ( August 2019 was the 32nd or 33rd annual) & The Lunenburg Opera House, Lunenburg, NS. The Harry Chapin Band: Steve Chapin, Big John Wallace, Howard Fields & Clark Wallace (big John's son) & Jonathan Chapin (Steve's son). Check it out.
I first saw Harry in 1976 at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fl. and was immediately hooked. I last saw him in Naples , Italy when while in Rome for a World Hunger event, he heard that the USS Forrestal was in Naples. He came out to the Carrier and did a concert for us in the middle of the day. I have a cruise book that he signed, " From Harry, Keep The Change:! My most treasured possession.
Had a friend named Joe, a plumber, who had some talent and professional training as and opera singer. He loved to sing while he worked. On the side of his truck was emblazoned, "Joe, the singing plumber. He's music to your rear." Not everyone needs to be astar to be whole. Rest in peace, Joe and Harry.
I had followed Harry's career my whole life up until his death in 1981. I was through hiking the Appalachian Trail and was in Salisbury Conn. getting supplies when I heard the news of his passing. It set in time forever that sad day. It was the worst day of my trip. I thought of Harry two months later up on Mount Katahdin Maine when my trip was over. Thanks for the post.
I learned of Harry Chapin when I was in High School, in 2000 at age 15, from my father. Cats in the Cradle has always been one of my favorite songs. I am now 34 and just now leaning about Big John Wallace...what an amazing voice he had...such a talented man
+Fretless99 I assure you John is alive and well, still playing, living in Philly. Go out the see the band if you get a chance. Join the Chapin Nation at these great shows: Friday, May 13th at the Bergen Arts Ctr. in Englewood, NJ; Friday, June 24 at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, MI; Sunday, 6/26 Arcada Theater in St. Charles, IL
See Big John playing live! Join the Chapin Nation at these great shows: Friday, May 13th at the Bergen Arts Ctr. in Englewood, NJ; Friday, June 24 at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, MI; Sunday, 6/26 Arcada Theater in St. Charles, IL
YOUR FRIENDS DON'T KNOW MUSIC, YOU DO, BE PROUD, HARRY WAS THE BEST STORY TELLER AND GAVE IT TO US IN MUSIC, HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT? YOU ARE THE WINNER HERE, YOU FOUND THE GREATEST VOICE EVER, TAKEN MUCH TOO SOON, BUT ISN'T THAT ALWAYS THE CASE. YOU KEEP LISTENING....
It's your friends loss. Consider yourself fortunate and enriched, to have experienced Harry Chapins music and understand and touched by it. No matter how late, or how many years pass. He was a treasure. The song he wrote " All my life's a Circle " says it all.
I just found this clip never knew it was around. A great tribute, but he’s barely holding it together. Don’t ask how, but I am related to Big John like twenty fifth cousins or something. Only met him maybe a couple times when i was really little. I just remember him as being slow and graceful kinda, until he opened his mouth then things became awkward. He really wasn’t a big guy to anyone but I was told it was John Denver, who was very slight, who gave him the name. But he listed a little to the left of most people at the family gatherings of my youth, which I thought was very funny! But that’s probably why he wasn’t the relative you see at everything nor one who would be apt to remember holiday cards and such. But on stage he is all amazing Wallace! that far off tip of the family has absolute geniuses in it!
The amazing thing is that his family still splits the income from his music to his organization to fight world hunger. before the events like Band-Aid, Harry played one concert for his own needs and one for the needy.
Saw him DEC 76 at Penn State and JUN 77 in Norfolk, VA. At Penn State Big John was as he said "Legally High". He dropped an AMP on his foot and PSU's hospital, Rittenhouer, shot him up with Morphine to kill the pain. Both Concerts were fantastic.
I still call into the radio station and request Harry's songs and every time without fail the D.J.'s play them even after all of these years. WE STILL REMEMBER AND LOVE YOU HARRY! RIP
After all these years, the words and the music still touch like no other music can. Thanks big John for keeping Harry alive!
Big John, one of the great baritones to ever play in a great band. He was cool, funny, and man did he have talent.
Fantastic Big John Wallace ❤
The hurt in John's eyes at the end. Devastating.
I still miss being able to see Harry, John, and the rest of the band. Thanks for posting this. The cheap seats still remember them.
The great incomperable Big John Wallace did his heartfelt "Last Stand" which I played three times today. The loss of Harry and the fabulous band permanently left a vacancy in my soul. As a purveyor of tunes myself the loss has left a deep
void except for Harry's lyrics that lives on unabated!!! As in my poem Harry C I gave to Tom in Clearwater " Say hey to the Lord for me and tell 'em He was right bout a number of things including dying anytime in boots and blue jeans".
John "Big John" Wallace grew up with Harry and was always a part of his band. Big John is/was only about
5'10, but he weighed in at around 220, and he moved kinda slow and sturdy and gave off the appearance of a tough guy when he needed to be. He had a five octave (he said only 4) range, and was by far the greatest singer in Harry's band. He could sing so high and he could sing so low. That is Tom and Steve Chapin on the left who are singing along with Big John. Steve Chapin has his own band, and Big John still joins him often.
John played Bass and sang background vocals with Harry....and is a great vocalist in his own right!!
He could have been a star with that amazing voice.
Class! Big John
Thank you so much for posting this. It's hard to explain to folks how much I miss Harry; he was always sweet and kind to all of us who came to meet him, but I was one of many. Even so, when he died it was like losing a favorite uncle or a dear friend too seldom seen. And Big John knocked this one out of the park.
I agree
He was so young,when he was killed,in that terrible accident.Only 38.R.I.P Harry.
There's something so special so magical about hearing big john sing this song. I've listened to it hundreds of times. I know this sounds crazy but I some how feel Harry wrote it for John to sing on this occasion.
Thanks for posting great videos heard about this while watching one of his documentaries was amazed to see the full special on UA-cam watched it last night in full during a snowstorm when the live Parts with Harry from Canada came on oh my God the snowflakes just started getting bigger and bigger it's like he was there and it was f****** crazy how music carries Through The Years thank you Harry thank you Chapins
And thank you Big John Wallace got interested in Harry when my mom who is 73 heard me playing w o l d and she said A friend of mine asked me to go see Harry in Hartford Connecticut but she didn't go I guess when you listen to the media you make a decision I think it's you went she would have been a fan for life she still is tho
Oh God what a great song and big John Wallace was part of my life and poems.
Saw Harry and the band a few times in Toronto, Ontario Place and the last time at the Royal Alex great artist and humanitarian with a hell of a band especially you Big John what I wouldn't give to see him singing one more time!
Steve, Steve Chapin still performs with The Harry Chapin Band and every August they sing @The Ovens Natural Park, Riverport, NS ( August 2019 was the 32nd or 33rd annual) & The Lunenburg Opera House, Lunenburg, NS. The Harry Chapin Band: Steve Chapin, Big John Wallace, Howard Fields & Clark Wallace (big John's son) & Jonathan Chapin (Steve's son). Check it out.
Miss you Harry.Thank you Big John.
Seen Harry Chapin in concert. In Hamilton Ontario. One of the best concerts I've been too
thank you big John, ur love for love and people is still felt Harry, rip
Absolutely amazing
I first saw Harry in 1976 at the University of West Florida in Pensacola, Fl. and was immediately hooked. I last saw him in Naples , Italy when while in Rome for a World Hunger event, he heard that the USS Forrestal was in Naples. He came out to the Carrier and did a concert for us in the middle of the day. I have a cruise book that he signed, " From Harry, Keep The Change:! My most treasured possession.
Had a friend named Joe, a plumber, who had some talent and professional training as and opera singer. He loved to sing while he worked. On the side of his truck was emblazoned, "Joe, the singing plumber. He's music to your rear." Not everyone needs to be astar to be whole. Rest in peace, Joe and Harry.
Brilliant, wish I could have been there.
Harry Chapin a man's gift 🎁. To the world 🌎 as beautiful man singing his s[ongs
I had followed Harry's career my whole life up until his death in 1981. I was through hiking the Appalachian Trail and was in Salisbury Conn. getting supplies when I heard the news of his passing. It set in time forever that sad day. It was the worst day of my trip. I thought of Harry two months later up on Mount Katahdin Maine when my trip was over. Thanks for the post.
Celebrato dai propri amici e musicisti,grandissimo rispetto per Harry!
I learned of Harry Chapin when I was in High School, in 2000 at age 15, from my father. Cats in the Cradle has always been one of my favorite songs. I am now 34 and just now leaning about Big John Wallace...what an amazing voice he had...such a talented man
I'm 75 and just learning of Big John Wallace and his connection to Harry Chapin today.
5 Octave Range , Big shout out to Big John Wallace.
Miss you Harry and the band. Big John, miss you as well
Diane Polifka Are you suggesting Big John is dead?
+Fretless99 I assure you John is alive and well, still playing, living in Philly. Go out the see the band if you get a chance. Join the Chapin Nation at these great shows: Friday, May 13th at the Bergen Arts Ctr. in Englewood, NJ; Friday, June 24 at the Acorn Theater in Three Oaks, MI; Sunday, 6/26 Arcada Theater in St. Charles, IL
See Big John playing live! Join the Chapin Nation at these great shows: Friday, May 13th at the Bergen Arts Ctr. in Englewood, NJ; Friday, June 24 at the Acorn Theater
in Three Oaks, MI; Sunday, 6/26 Arcada Theater in St. Charles, IL
Thank you for posting this. I watched the tribute when it aired and it was long before online access to videos. This is one of my favorites.
Hey John, Love you!
Heartbreaking -words can’t describe
Wonderful
Thanx John...
I only found Harry when I was 24 around 1995.. and now my friends are sick of me talking / sharing / etc..
YOUR FRIENDS DON'T KNOW MUSIC, YOU DO, BE PROUD, HARRY WAS THE BEST STORY TELLER AND GAVE IT TO US IN MUSIC, HOW BEAUTIFUL IS THAT? YOU ARE THE WINNER HERE, YOU FOUND THE GREATEST VOICE EVER, TAKEN MUCH TOO SOON, BUT ISN'T THAT ALWAYS THE CASE. YOU KEEP LISTENING....
well said ronan !!! f yer pals
Ronan FitzGerald same
It's your friends loss. Consider yourself fortunate and enriched, to have experienced Harry Chapins music and understand and touched by it. No matter how late, or how many years pass. He was a treasure. The song he wrote " All my life's a Circle " says it all.
never stop
Some dreams do disappear. The last day the last stand. Hide behind trees . Courage on knees
I just found this clip never knew it was around. A great tribute, but he’s barely holding it together. Don’t ask how, but I am related to Big John like twenty fifth cousins or something. Only met him maybe a couple times when i was really little. I just remember him as being slow and graceful kinda, until he opened his mouth then things became awkward. He really wasn’t a big guy to anyone but I was told it was John Denver, who was very slight, who gave him the name. But he listed a little to the left of most people at the family gatherings of my youth, which I thought was very funny! But that’s probably why he wasn’t the relative you see at everything nor one who would be apt to remember holiday cards and such. But on stage he is all amazing Wallace! that far off tip of the family has absolute geniuses in it!
Condolences to Big John
The amazing thing is that his family still splits the income from his music to his organization to fight world hunger. before the events like Band-Aid, Harry played one concert for his own needs and one for the needy.
It had to be Big John Wallace. Mr Tanner singer.😢
Saw him DEC 76 at Penn State and JUN 77 in Norfolk, VA. At Penn State Big John was as he said "Legally High". He dropped an AMP on his foot and PSU's hospital, Rittenhouer, shot him up with Morphine to kill the pain. Both Concerts were fantastic.
I love this!!! Thank u for posting... I have it on an old video cassette... I have no idea how to view it anymore...
Wonderful, who recorded and how can rest of this tribute be posted. Thank you much
play it big john isn't it josh? fight the good fight one again isn't it , now it you isn't it ?
What a neck on that guitar, what brand is it?
Big John is playing bass guitar.
He toured with Harry throughout the seventies.
Fender Jazz Bass
Why would anyone do a "tribute" to someone the year before the person actually died? (Vid says 1980; Chapin died 7/1981.)
1980 was the year the song was written. This is from the tribute concert in 1987.
@@brianeisenstein6144 Thanks for the explanation. I knew there must be a good one.