Bruce Springsteen remembers when Harry Chapin doggedly pursued him everywhere — from recording studio lobbies to hotel courtyards — to enlist his support in the fight against hunger.
He remembers the cold, wintry night in 1987 when he joined the Chapin family, Pete Seeger, Pat Benatar, The Hooters, Judy Collins and several other performers and friends at New York's historic Carnegie Hall, in a benefit concert to celebrate Harry's birthday and life.
That night, as he performed "Remember When the Music," Springsteen reflected on his pesky friend's relentless energy, his positive spirit, and his pragmatic approach to affecting social change. "Harry knew that it was going to take a lot more than just love to survive — it was going to take a strong sense of purpose, of duty, and a good clear eye on the dirty ways of the world," Springsteen said. As he closed the song, he called on the audience to "do something" to keep Harry's dream alive.
