WhyHunger is a leader in building the movement to end hunger and poverty by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food and by supporting grassroots solutions that inspire self-reliance and community empowerment.
Founded in 1975 by the late Harry Chapin & current Executive Director Bill Ayres, WhyHunger works to put an end to hunger suffered by 49 million Americans and nearly 1 billion people worldwide.
WhyHunger’s main programs include the National Hunger Hotline 1-866-3-hungry, which refers individuals in need of emergency food assistance to soup kitchens, food banks, government nutrition programs & community organizations in their neighborhoods; the Grassroots Action Network, which provides information, networking opportunities, capacity building & access to over 8,000 anti-hunger & poverty community organizations across the United States and around the world; and Artists Against Hunger & Poverty which is supported by Bruce Springsteen, Michael McDonald, Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Joss Stone, Darryl McDaniels, Jackson Browne, O.A.R., and many others.
Founded in 1975 by the late Harry Chapin & current Executive Director Bill Ayres, WhyHunger works to put an end to hunger suffered by 49 million Americans and nearly 1 billion people worldwide.
WhyHunger’s main programs include the National Hunger Hotline 1-866-3-hungry, which refers individuals in need of emergency food assistance to soup kitchens, food banks, government nutrition programs & community organizations in their neighborhoods; the Grassroots Action Network, which provides information, networking opportunities, capacity building & access to over 8,000 anti-hunger & poverty community organizations across the United States and around the world; and Artists Against Hunger & Poverty which is supported by Bruce Springsteen, Michael McDonald, Chicago, Earth Wind & Fire, Joss Stone, Darryl McDaniels, Jackson Browne, O.A.R., and many others.
- 9/6/2023
- Look to the Stars
Before the 1975 masterpiece Jaws made us all afraid to go in the water, another film presented equally terrifying footage of real underwater nightmares. Directed by Peter Gimbel, the 1971 documentary Blue Water, White Death follows a group of aquatic photographers and adventurers determined to capture the first underwater footage of Carcharodon carcharias, the mythic apex predator commonly called the great white shark. While not a horror movie per se, the film presents breathtaking footage of massive sharks shot from within cages designed specifically for the expedition. It also includes shocking acts of animal cruelty and a dated understanding of marine wildlife. Premiering three years before publication of Peter Benchley’s best-selling novel Jaws, this unprecedented documentary formally introduced the world to the great white shark and likely planted seeds that would go on to change cinematic history as we know it.
Filmed in 1969, Gimbel and his crew departed from Durban, South...
Filmed in 1969, Gimbel and his crew departed from Durban, South...
- 7/28/2023
- by Jenn Adams
- bloody-disgusting.com
Click here to read the full article.
If you can’t beat ’em, the old saying goes, join ’em. In Kevin Bacon’s case, that meant accepting the fact that Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon — the party game that requires you to link every known actor to Bacon in six movies or less — was never going away. So he embraced the phenomenon and founded SixDegrees.org in 2007, a charitable organization whose efforts to fight hunger are being honored Nov. 1 in New York City with a Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award (named for the “Cat’s in the Cradle” songwriter).
And speaking of joining ’em, Bacon’s daughter, Sosie Bacon — who stars in Paramount’s gruesome hit Smile — is now well on her way toward joining her father as a horror movie icon. (Dad, you may recall, has been in a number of classic scary films, dating all the way back to 1980’s Friday the 13th.
If you can’t beat ’em, the old saying goes, join ’em. In Kevin Bacon’s case, that meant accepting the fact that Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon — the party game that requires you to link every known actor to Bacon in six movies or less — was never going away. So he embraced the phenomenon and founded SixDegrees.org in 2007, a charitable organization whose efforts to fight hunger are being honored Nov. 1 in New York City with a Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award (named for the “Cat’s in the Cradle” songwriter).
And speaking of joining ’em, Bacon’s daughter, Sosie Bacon — who stars in Paramount’s gruesome hit Smile — is now well on her way toward joining her father as a horror movie icon. (Dad, you may recall, has been in a number of classic scary films, dating all the way back to 1980’s Friday the 13th.
- 10/28/2022
- by Seth Abramovitch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Director Wes Craven (1939 - 2015) changed the face of horror three decades in a row. In 1972, he pushed the genre toward a bleaker, harder-edged tone with "The Last House on the Left," a grindhouse remake of Ingmar Bergman's 1960 film "The Virgin Spring." In 1984, he introduced the indelible pop figure Freddy Krueger into the gestalt with "A Nightmare on Elm Street." Then, in both 1994 and 1996, he openly dissected the relationship horror audiences have with the genre in "Wes Craven's New Nightmare" (for horror authors) and "Scream" (for teenage fans).
Craven never intended to become a horror filmmaker, or indeed even a filmmaker at all. In college, Craven studied psychology and earned a Master's degree in philosophy. The first leg of Craven's professional career was in classrooms, and he taught many students throughout the 1960s. It was only when teaching jobs dried up that Craven turned to filmmaking, initially of pornography. In the documentary "Inside Deep Throat,...
Craven never intended to become a horror filmmaker, or indeed even a filmmaker at all. In college, Craven studied psychology and earned a Master's degree in philosophy. The first leg of Craven's professional career was in classrooms, and he taught many students throughout the 1960s. It was only when teaching jobs dried up that Craven turned to filmmaking, initially of pornography. In the documentary "Inside Deep Throat,...
- 10/13/2022
- by Witney Seibold
- Slash Film
Ken Kragen, best known for his work in putting together the massive ‘We are the World’ and ‘Hands Across America’ projects, has a posthumous venture launching today. The goal is to fundraise with NFTs for charities focused on climate, world hunger, cancer and Ukraine.
Teaming with tech firms Cosmic Wire, an Nft arm that has done several prominent projects, including “Rolling Stone Lips Art”, and OneOf, a sustainable blockchain company, Hands For Humanity is Kragen’s final gift of philanthropy. He died on Dec. 14, 2021.
A portion of all proceeds from Nft sales will be shared amongst the Ken Kragen Foundation, Unicef \Ukraine, WhyHunger, F Cancer/Generaize , Nrdc (Natural Resources Defense Council) and Ocean Conservancy.
Operating expenses for the project are capped at 40, which will allow 60 to go to the Kragen Legacy, The Kragen Memorial Foundation Metaverse, which is being created as an additional revenue source for charities, and then shared...
Teaming with tech firms Cosmic Wire, an Nft arm that has done several prominent projects, including “Rolling Stone Lips Art”, and OneOf, a sustainable blockchain company, Hands For Humanity is Kragen’s final gift of philanthropy. He died on Dec. 14, 2021.
A portion of all proceeds from Nft sales will be shared amongst the Ken Kragen Foundation, Unicef \Ukraine, WhyHunger, F Cancer/Generaize , Nrdc (Natural Resources Defense Council) and Ocean Conservancy.
Operating expenses for the project are capped at 40, which will allow 60 to go to the Kragen Legacy, The Kragen Memorial Foundation Metaverse, which is being created as an additional revenue source for charities, and then shared...
- 4/22/2022
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Every so often, we need a gripping seafaring-disaster song, and that time has come. While shipwrecks have never been at the top of any pop songwriter’s checklist, they’ve nonetheless set sail every so often in the rock era, dating back at least to Gordon Lightfoot’s Number One hit “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” and the late Harry Chapin’s “Dance Band on the Titanic.” More recently, the Decemberists’ perversely jaunty “The Mariner’s Revenge Song” added a grim new twist — the tale of two survivors of...
- 1/12/2021
- by David Browne
- Rollingstone.com
Jason Chapin wasn’t Harry Chapin’s biological child — he came from wife Sandy Chapin’s first marriage — but that never mattered to Harry. As the new documentary, Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something, shows us, Harry considered all of the children to be his own. Jason Chapin is one of the producers of the [...]
The post Even Harry Chapin’s Son Learned New Things While Making His Documentary appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
The post Even Harry Chapin’s Son Learned New Things While Making His Documentary appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 10/30/2020
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Jesse Malin asks if you’re better off now than you were four years ago in his new protest song “Ameri’ka,” a soft but hard-hitting ballad that takes stock of our current nightmare.
“Adam got the virus like when Reagan was in charge/history repeats itself, the killers are in charge,” he sings, pointing out just who exactly has sacrificed to build this country. “No purple mountain majesty or amber waves of grain/this land was made for you and me from someone else’s pain.”
“President Donald Trump has been an arrogant,...
“Adam got the virus like when Reagan was in charge/history repeats itself, the killers are in charge,” he sings, pointing out just who exactly has sacrificed to build this country. “No purple mountain majesty or amber waves of grain/this land was made for you and me from someone else’s pain.”
“President Donald Trump has been an arrogant,...
- 10/28/2020
- by Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
Though he’s been gone for nearly 40 years, the spirit of the late Harry Chapin lives on, his legacy including the pioneering work he did in crusading against hunger and, of course, his music. A new documentary, Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something, takes an in-depth look at both sides of Chapin. The film’s [...]
The post Documentary Details Several Sides Of Harry Chapin appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
The post Documentary Details Several Sides Of Harry Chapin appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 10/16/2020
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
In between the bubblegum pop that ruled the early 1970s and the corporate rock that dominated the second half of the decade came Cat’s in the Cradle, the commercial peak for the man who was, at the time, folk rock’s top troubadour. While the No. 1 single became a defining moment in Harry Chapin’s career, [...]
The post There’s No Doubt: Harry Chapin Definitely Did Something appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
The post There’s No Doubt: Harry Chapin Definitely Did Something appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 10/16/2020
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
Concert-video specialist Rick Korn puts his cards on the table when he begins his first documentary feature with quotes like “Harry Chapin was one of the greatest storytellers of all time”: No savvy viewer will expect the film that follows to contain much beyond praise. Focusing as much on the singer-songwriter’s humanitarianism as his music, Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something does offer a pretty good picture of Chapin’s formative years, spent among lefty creative types in Greenwich Village and Brooklyn. The narrative gets a little fuzzier after fame arrives, and one suspects that a couple ...
- 10/15/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Concert-video specialist Rick Korn puts his cards on the table when he begins his first documentary feature with quotes like “Harry Chapin was one of the greatest storytellers of all time”: No savvy viewer will expect the film that follows to contain much beyond praise. Focusing as much on the singer-songwriter’s humanitarianism as his music, Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something does offer a pretty good picture of Chapin’s formative years, spent among lefty creative types in Greenwich Village and Brooklyn. The narrative gets a little fuzzier after fame arrives, and one suspects that a couple ...
- 10/15/2020
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Chicago – Patrick McDonald of HollywoodChicago.com appears on “The Morning Mess” with Scott Thompson on Wbgr-fm on October 15th, 2020, reviewing the new rock documentary “Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something,” and a preview of the 56th Chicago International Film Festival.
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Harry Chapin was more than his songs “Cats in the Cradle,” “Taxi” and his tragic 1981 death in an automobile accident. It turns out he was an extreme activist regarding world hunger, even soliciting Senator Pat Leahy and Jimmy Carter. It was his life’s work, superseding his music, family and time, so he had a John Brown-type fervor about the issue. Family and friends looked back nearly 40 years after his death.
“Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something” is in theaters and through virtual cinema. See local listings for theaters, show times and download information. Directed by Rick Korn. Not Rated
Click here for Patrick McDonald’s full...
Rating: 4.0/5.0
Harry Chapin was more than his songs “Cats in the Cradle,” “Taxi” and his tragic 1981 death in an automobile accident. It turns out he was an extreme activist regarding world hunger, even soliciting Senator Pat Leahy and Jimmy Carter. It was his life’s work, superseding his music, family and time, so he had a John Brown-type fervor about the issue. Family and friends looked back nearly 40 years after his death.
“Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something” is in theaters and through virtual cinema. See local listings for theaters, show times and download information. Directed by Rick Korn. Not Rated
Click here for Patrick McDonald’s full...
- 10/15/2020
- by adam@hollywoodchicago.com (Adam Fendelman)
- HollywoodChicago.com
Harry Chapin’s star burned brightly, but was extinguished far too soon. The singer-songwriter, who rose to prominence in the 1970s with hit songs like Cat’s in the Cradle and Taxi died in an automobile accident in 1981. But his influence lived beyond his death. A new documentary, Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something, offers [...]
The post Harry Chapin’s Life & Legacy Celebrated In New Documentary appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
The post Harry Chapin’s Life & Legacy Celebrated In New Documentary appeared first on Hollywood Outbreak.
- 10/15/2020
- by Hollywood Outbreak
- HollywoodOutbreak.com
When the coronavirus pandemic hit California in March, San Diego Film Festival artistic director Tonya Mantooth briefly considered canceling this year’s program. But when it came down to the final decision, she recalls, her team held her back, saying, “Wait a second, our mission is to use film as a catalyst to bring different perspectives and get them to the forefront. This is exactly why we exist as a festival — we need to stay in there and fight the good fight.”
In a year that is seeing a resurgence of sociopolitical movements challenging systemic racism and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, Sdff’s 2020 edition champions those messages as told through the big screen in a sincere effort to unite communities. With its weeklong program reduced to four days, the fest is scheduled for Oct. 15 to 18, featuring both drive-in events and virtual screenings that can be enjoyed in the comfort of festgoers’ homes.
In a year that is seeing a resurgence of sociopolitical movements challenging systemic racism and advocating for LGBTQ+ rights, Sdff’s 2020 edition champions those messages as told through the big screen in a sincere effort to unite communities. With its weeklong program reduced to four days, the fest is scheduled for Oct. 15 to 18, featuring both drive-in events and virtual screenings that can be enjoyed in the comfort of festgoers’ homes.
- 10/15/2020
- by Janet W. Lee
- Variety Film + TV
American Murder: The Family Next Door
The new Netflix crime documentary examines the Watts family murder when Chris Watts killed his wife Shanann and their two young daughters in 2018. The film is made with a haunting twist: some of its narratives is told by Shanann herself, though old vlog footage she recorded. In one video, she says, ““I went through one of the darkest times of my life, and then I met Chris. And he’s one of the best things that ever happened to me.” It’s not long...
The new Netflix crime documentary examines the Watts family murder when Chris Watts killed his wife Shanann and their two young daughters in 2018. The film is made with a haunting twist: some of its narratives is told by Shanann herself, though old vlog footage she recorded. In one video, she says, ““I went through one of the darkest times of my life, and then I met Chris. And he’s one of the best things that ever happened to me.” It’s not long...
- 9/19/2020
- by Natalli Amato
- Rollingstone.com
The Hamptons Film Festival’s 2020 lineup will feature some of the year’s most buzzworthy films, from Francis Lee’s Ammonite to Lee Isaac Chung’s Steven Yeun-starrer Minari.
Announced Thursday, the Hamptons’ Spotlight Films section includes Florian Zeller’s The Father, Edson’s Oda’s Nine Days, Darius Marder’s Sound of Metal, Tara Miele’s Wander Darkly and Chloe Zhao’s Venice winner Nomadland.
The annual festival, which runs October 8-14, will also feature titles in the Views From Long Island, Air, Land & Sea; Documentary Competition and Narrative Competition categories. A number of movies, such as Nathan Grossman’s I Am Greta and Alex Gibney’s Crazy, Not Insane, are set to make their U.S. debut.
Deadline reported last month that Tommie Smith’s With Drawn Arms will open the festival’s 2020 iteration, which is going virtual while featuring some drive-in screenings. Set to close the...
Announced Thursday, the Hamptons’ Spotlight Films section includes Florian Zeller’s The Father, Edson’s Oda’s Nine Days, Darius Marder’s Sound of Metal, Tara Miele’s Wander Darkly and Chloe Zhao’s Venice winner Nomadland.
The annual festival, which runs October 8-14, will also feature titles in the Views From Long Island, Air, Land & Sea; Documentary Competition and Narrative Competition categories. A number of movies, such as Nathan Grossman’s I Am Greta and Alex Gibney’s Crazy, Not Insane, are set to make their U.S. debut.
Deadline reported last month that Tommie Smith’s With Drawn Arms will open the festival’s 2020 iteration, which is going virtual while featuring some drive-in screenings. Set to close the...
- 9/17/2020
- by Alexandra Del Rosario
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: We have learned that Greenwich Entertainment has acquired North American distribution rights to Rick Korn’s documentary Harry Chapin: When in Doubt, Do Something, which follows the Grammy-winning and 16 million album-selling singer-songwriter and activist who spent his fame and fortune trying to end world hunger before his tragic passing. The docu will hit the fall festival circuit before Greenwich’s release in October.
The pic features features Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Pete Seeger, Sir Bob Geldof, Kenny Rogers, Graham Nash, Pat Benatar, Darryl “Dmc” McDaniels, Robert Lamm, Richie Havens and Harry Belafonte intimately reflecting on Chapin’s impact on music and the world. His “Cat’s in the Cradle” hit No. 1 on the Billboard 100 and received a 1975 Grammy nom for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. He also hit the U.S. top 40 with “Taxi” in 1972 and “Wold” two years later.
The pic features features Bruce Springsteen, Billy Joel, Pete Seeger, Sir Bob Geldof, Kenny Rogers, Graham Nash, Pat Benatar, Darryl “Dmc” McDaniels, Robert Lamm, Richie Havens and Harry Belafonte intimately reflecting on Chapin’s impact on music and the world. His “Cat’s in the Cradle” hit No. 1 on the Billboard 100 and received a 1975 Grammy nom for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2011. He also hit the U.S. top 40 with “Taxi” in 1972 and “Wold” two years later.
- 7/7/2020
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Carlos Santana and his wife, drummer Cindy Blackman Santana, covered John Lennon’s “Imagine” to raise money to feed those affected by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Carlos and Cindy partnered with WhyHunger — an organization founded by Harry Chapin in 1975 — and SongAid, a global platform that allows artists to donate proceeds to charities. The cover also appears on Cindy’s upcoming album, Give the Drummer Some, slated for mid-September release.
“Now more than ever, it’s important that we all come together to ensure no one in our world goes hungry,” Yoko Ono said in a statement.
Carlos and Cindy partnered with WhyHunger — an organization founded by Harry Chapin in 1975 — and SongAid, a global platform that allows artists to donate proceeds to charities. The cover also appears on Cindy’s upcoming album, Give the Drummer Some, slated for mid-September release.
“Now more than ever, it’s important that we all come together to ensure no one in our world goes hungry,” Yoko Ono said in a statement.
- 5/29/2020
- by Angie Martoccio
- Rollingstone.com
The Billy Joel Foundation is teaming with Harry Chapin’s organization Long Island Cares to provide food to those across Long Island struggling to get fresh and nutritious meals during the coronavirus pandemic.
Joel shared a note on Twitter detailing the new partnership, explaining that his foundation has previously worked with Long Island Cares and “supported their work with food pantries and soup kitchens across Long Island for the past decade.” While Covid-19 has increased the need for nutritious food, the note continued, the health risks associated with the pandemic...
Joel shared a note on Twitter detailing the new partnership, explaining that his foundation has previously worked with Long Island Cares and “supported their work with food pantries and soup kitchens across Long Island for the past decade.” While Covid-19 has increased the need for nutritious food, the note continued, the health risks associated with the pandemic...
- 4/7/2020
- by Jon Blistein
- Rollingstone.com
An under-appreciated period of Johnny Cash’s lengthy recording career will be reexamined with the April 24th release of a seven-disc box set, The Complete Mercury Recordings 1986-1991, and a 24-cut “best of” collection representing highlights from this period. The CD set also includes several rare or previously unreleased tracks and an additional 20-track collection titled Classic Cash: Hall Of Fame Series (Early Mixes), featuring material mastered from tapes newly discovered in the Mercury vaults. While the vinyl version does not include this LP, it will be available as a...
- 3/6/2020
- by Stephen L. Betts
- Rollingstone.com
Exclusive: A project to develop a biographical stage musical about 1970s singer-songwriter Harry Chapin has gotten the support of Chapin’s wife Sandy and brothers Tom Chapin and Steve Chapin, who will serve as consultants on the project.
Patriot Productions, most recently a producer on Broadway’s Be More Chill, is readying Harry Chapin: The Story of a Life for an industry presentation this spring. With a book by Patriot partner Michael F. Mitri, the musical’s score would consist entirely of Chapin’s songs.
Chapin, who died in 1981 at 38 in a car accident, is best known for his Grammy-nominated mega-selling 1970s hits including “Taxi” and “Cat’s In The Cradle.” The musical also is expected to chronicle Chapin’s extensive humanitarian work, especially his devotion to ending world hunger.
“This new musical will highlight Harry Chapin’s timeless music and inspiring activism in a unique structure and style befitting...
Patriot Productions, most recently a producer on Broadway’s Be More Chill, is readying Harry Chapin: The Story of a Life for an industry presentation this spring. With a book by Patriot partner Michael F. Mitri, the musical’s score would consist entirely of Chapin’s songs.
Chapin, who died in 1981 at 38 in a car accident, is best known for his Grammy-nominated mega-selling 1970s hits including “Taxi” and “Cat’s In The Cradle.” The musical also is expected to chronicle Chapin’s extensive humanitarian work, especially his devotion to ending world hunger.
“This new musical will highlight Harry Chapin’s timeless music and inspiring activism in a unique structure and style befitting...
- 12/6/2019
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
The Music Business Association (Music Biz) will present three-time Grammy Award-winning artist Darius Rucker with its Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award during the Music Biz 2019 Awards & Hall of Fame Dinner on Tuesday, May 7 at the Jw Marriott Nashville Hotel at 7:30 Pm.
Rucker is being celebrated for his lifelong philanthropic efforts that include exemplary and heartfelt work on behalf of children.
“Through his tireless efforts to support the youth community of Charleston, not to mention the millions of dollars he has helped raise for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Darius has beautifully honored the legacy of our Humanitarian Award’s namesake, Harry Chapin,” said Music Biz President James Donio. “We truly feel that Harry would be proud to see how Darius has used his platform and resources to benefit those among us in need. We are delighted to recognize him for all he has contributed.”
For years, Rucker has been...
Rucker is being celebrated for his lifelong philanthropic efforts that include exemplary and heartfelt work on behalf of children.
“Through his tireless efforts to support the youth community of Charleston, not to mention the millions of dollars he has helped raise for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Darius has beautifully honored the legacy of our Humanitarian Award’s namesake, Harry Chapin,” said Music Biz President James Donio. “We truly feel that Harry would be proud to see how Darius has used his platform and resources to benefit those among us in need. We are delighted to recognize him for all he has contributed.”
For years, Rucker has been...
- 2/28/2019
- Look to the Stars
Songs built around the lyrics or titles of other songs can often tilt toward the lazy. But Eric Church’s new “Hippie Radio,” off the just released album Desperate Man, finds a smart way to nod to gems of the past.
“My daddy had a Pontiac on the beiger side of yellow,” he sings, setting the scene of his days as a tyke, riding on the bench seat of his old man’s car and listening to staples like “Carry on Wayward Son.” Here, the songs aren’t the narrative,...
“My daddy had a Pontiac on the beiger side of yellow,” he sings, setting the scene of his days as a tyke, riding on the bench seat of his old man’s car and listening to staples like “Carry on Wayward Son.” Here, the songs aren’t the narrative,...
- 10/10/2018
- by Joseph Hudak
- Rollingstone.com
Washington — A group of lawmakers introduced legislation on Tuesday to award the Congressional Gold Medal to Aretha Franklin, who died last week.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) are among the co-sponsors of the legislation in the Senate, while Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) and Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) are co-sponsors in the House.
In a statement, Harris said Franklin “was simply a legend. Her work and impact will be felt for generations to come, and it’s long past time Congress honor her with the Congressional Gold Medal.”
She said, “from listening to ‘Mary Don’t You Weep,’ to standing in the living room dancing to ‘Rock Steady’ over and over again, to hearing from the Queen herself how lucky I was to be young, gifted, and black — Aretha’s songs were the soundtrack of my childhood.”
Hatch said Franklin “brought light, laughter, and love to all who would hear.
Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) and Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) are among the co-sponsors of the legislation in the Senate, while Rep. Brenda Lawrence (D-Mich.) and Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) are co-sponsors in the House.
In a statement, Harris said Franklin “was simply a legend. Her work and impact will be felt for generations to come, and it’s long past time Congress honor her with the Congressional Gold Medal.”
She said, “from listening to ‘Mary Don’t You Weep,’ to standing in the living room dancing to ‘Rock Steady’ over and over again, to hearing from the Queen herself how lucky I was to be young, gifted, and black — Aretha’s songs were the soundtrack of my childhood.”
Hatch said Franklin “brought light, laughter, and love to all who would hear.
- 8/21/2018
- by Ted Johnson
- Variety Film + TV
Elektra Records founder Jac Holzman has launched a new venture that is nothing if not self-evident: cosmic ringtones, 29 tracks “inspired by a celestial body or phenomenon of the universe,” produced by Holzman and aimed at the global ringtone market. It is out through Holzman’s own FM Group Music label, distributed by Ada, Warner Music Group’s independent services division. The project’s full title is “Cosmic Ringtones & Sonic Realms… Your Universe Is Calling” and it includes pieces performed by Holzman’s son Adam.
The project is billed as a “the 21st century successor” to Holzman’s influential 13-album series of “Authentic Sound Effects” released in the early 1960s, which provided the funding to launch Elektra’s sister label, Nonesuch. Several years ago, he noticed that tracks from the albums were being downloaded as ringtones.
“I decided that having a theme-based collection, created specifically for the ringtone market, was the ticket forward,...
The project is billed as a “the 21st century successor” to Holzman’s influential 13-album series of “Authentic Sound Effects” released in the early 1960s, which provided the funding to launch Elektra’s sister label, Nonesuch. Several years ago, he noticed that tracks from the albums were being downloaded as ringtones.
“I decided that having a theme-based collection, created specifically for the ringtone market, was the ticket forward,...
- 6/15/2018
- by Jem Aswad
- Variety Film + TV
Hip-hop pioneer Darryl "Dmc" McDaniels made a name for himself as the King of Rock in Run-dmc - but when he battled depression and suicidal thoughts, his go-to soundtrack was a much less hardcore. "I was probably at my suicidal worst in 1997 during a two-week-long tour in Japan. The only song I listened to then was a soft-pop ballad by Sarah McLachlan called 'Angel,'" McDaniels, 52, writes in his new memoir, Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide, excerpted exclusively in the new issue of People. The rapper first heard the aching track - now famously used in PSAs to raise...
- 6/30/2016
- by Jeff Nelson, @nelson_jeff
- PEOPLE.com
Hip-hop pioneer Darryl "Dmc" McDaniels made a name for himself as the King of Rock in Run-dmc - but when he battled depression and suicidal thoughts, his go-to soundtrack was a much less hardcore. "I was probably at my suicidal worst in 1997 during a two-week-long tour in Japan. The only song I listened to then was a soft-pop ballad by Sarah McLachlan called 'Angel,'" McDaniels, 52, writes in his new memoir, Ten Ways Not to Commit Suicide, excerpted exclusively in the new issue of People. The rapper first heard the aching track - now famously used in PSAs to raise...
- 6/30/2016
- by Jeff Nelson, @nelson_jeff
- PEOPLE.com
As Harry Chapin once sang, "The cat's in the cradle and it's going to be an FX series." According to Entertainment Weekly, Fargo showrunner Noah Hawley is adapting Kurt Vonnegut's novel Cat's Cradle into a series for FX.
Published in 1963, the novel deals with the Cold War arms race, alternative religions, and technology. It remains one of Vonnegut's most popular and praised works for its satiric take on mid-century American society.
Read More…...
Published in 1963, the novel deals with the Cold War arms race, alternative religions, and technology. It remains one of Vonnegut's most popular and praised works for its satiric take on mid-century American society.
Read More…...
- 11/20/2015
- by TVSeriesFinale.com
- TVSeriesFinale.com
Every year, companies pay staggering amounts of money to run short spots during the Super Bowl. Because of the number of viewers -- and the legendary tradition of Super Bowl ads -- advertisers go out of their way to make particularly funny, clever or emotional commercials that try to immediately grab your attention.
News: The 7 Sexiest Super Bowl Commercials of All Time
This year was filled with memorable ads, but not all of them were memorable for the right reasons. From celebs making fun of themselves to sexualized cars, and even post-apocalyptic nightmares, here are the best, the worst and the weirdest ads from Super Bowl Xlix.
The Best
Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel Predict the Next Big Thing
Katie and Bryant were good sports in this commercial for the BMW i3. The spot begins with a clip of the Today show from 1994 in which the two hosts don't understand what the internet is, or what "@" stands...
News: The 7 Sexiest Super Bowl Commercials of All Time
This year was filled with memorable ads, but not all of them were memorable for the right reasons. From celebs making fun of themselves to sexualized cars, and even post-apocalyptic nightmares, here are the best, the worst and the weirdest ads from Super Bowl Xlix.
The Best
Katie Couric and Bryant Gumbel Predict the Next Big Thing
Katie and Bryant were good sports in this commercial for the BMW i3. The spot begins with a clip of the Today show from 1994 in which the two hosts don't understand what the internet is, or what "@" stands...
- 2/2/2015
- Entertainment Tonight
Was it just us, or was this a really sad year for Super Bowl commercials? Children died, "Cat's in the Cradle" was played, and it was a real bummer of a night, generally. How sad was it? "Stay with Me" on repeat and red wine sad. Liking your ex's old vacation pictures alone on a Friday night sad. Requiem for a Dream scored to Bright Eyes sad. And because we're nothing if not sad-pletists (that's sadness completists), here's all of the saddest Super Bowl commercials in one place. Ready your hankies. (And look, some of the commercials addressed serious issues.
- 2/2/2015
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
Was it just us, or was this a really sad year for Super Bowl commercials? Children died, "Cat's in the Cradle" was played, and it was a real bummer of a night, generally. How sad was it? "Stay with Me" on repeat and red wine sad. Liking your ex's old vacation pictures alone on a Friday night sad. Requiem for a Dream scored to Bright Eyes sad. And because we're nothing if not sad-pletists (that's sadness completists), here's all of the saddest Super Bowl commercials in one place. Ready your hankies. (And look, some of the commercials addressed serious issues.
- 2/2/2015
- by Alex Heigl, @alex_heigl
- PEOPLE.com
The 2015 Super Bowl is more than just cheese products, football and Tom Brady's smug mug. HitFix is watching all the commercials along with you, so get out your red pen: we're grading all the ads as they happen. Follow along, we'll start the tally at kickoff, 3:30pm Pst. -- Fine, it's not kickoff yet, but I half-wish the pterodactyl from the "Jurassic World" trailer would sweep down and pick up Pete Carroll. "Think it will scare the kids?" asks Bryce Dallas Howard's clueless-sounding character. Do You Think? More sweaty shots of Chris Pratt's half-scared, all-brutally handsome face. Grade: B Chevy's "What if your TV went out?" commercial is the equivalent of your little brother poking your feet with a pencil and asking if its annoying. It is annoying. And the Cloverfieldian "cut-out" of my television lacks novelty. AC/DC keeps collecting "Back in Black" paychecks. Grade: D+ Speaking of paychecks,...
- 2/1/2015
- by Katie Hasty
- Hitfix
Laura Benanti is a Tony award-winning veteran of several Broadway shows, which means her transition to musical performer on the ABC drama Nashville wasn't that much of a stretch. Although she's extremely disciplined (thanks to a theatrical schedule of eight live shows a week), her introduction to viewers on the series this season hasn't been without its professional challenges. But as Sadie Stone, new Bff to country superstar Rayna Jaymes (Connie Britton), Benanti is making it look effortless.
"In some ways this is music boot camp," Benanti told Rolling Stone...
"In some ways this is music boot camp," Benanti told Rolling Stone...
- 12/10/2014
- Rollingstone.com
This week's conundrum on The Americans: Is being a shitty parent a viable trade-off if it means you're cold-hearted enough to fulfill your mission without an emotional breakdown? I guess we really won't know the answer until Paige's therapy bills start coming in once the Nineties hit (what I wouldn't give to see a flash-forward where Sally Draper is Paige's shrink circa 1995) – or she joins the family business (as a spy, not a travel agent).
'The Americans,' A to Z
Just as Henry proved an innate ability...
'The Americans,' A to Z
Just as Henry proved an innate ability...
- 5/1/2014
- Rollingstone.com
‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2′ review: ‘Professionally mediocre’ sequel is ‘loud, dull, and, forced’ (photo: Andrew Garfield as Spider-Man in ‘The Amazing Spider-Man 2′) Part of the appeal of Spider-Man, in all his paper and celluloid incarnations, is the character’s recognizably human scale. Neither a trillionaire industrialist (Batman), a Norse God (Thor), nor an indestructible Christ figure (Superman), Spider-Man is just awkward, orphaned teenager Peter Parker, living a drab middle-class existence in Queens, where he juggles girls, schoolwork, and superheroics. Yet it’s peer pressure, that classic teenage hardship, which seems to be the motivating force behind the professionally mediocre The Amazing Spider-Man 2. Sony, the studio that owns the rights to the Spider-Man character, has publicly admitted to coveting Disney’s massively successful multi-character Marvel universe and thinking how much they’d like one, too. So in this sequel to 2012’s redundant The Amazing Spider-Man, it’s not enough...
- 4/30/2014
- by Mark Keizer
- Alt Film Guide
Laura Benanti wows the crowd at 54 Below for her new CD (photo: Nathan Johnson)
She won a Tony playing the daughter to Patti LuPone in Gypsy, appeared on the cover of Playboy (during the time of NBC’s short-lived The Playboy Club) and has appeared on TV series such as Go On, Royal Pains, Elementary and, starting next season, Showtime’s Nurse Jackie.
Yep, Laura Benanti proves that she’s up for any daunting task with every new role she takes on and every song she sings.
And speaking of singing, she stars alongside Carrie Underwood and True Blood’s Stephen Moyer as well as sings two numbers with fellow Broadway vet Christian Borle (Smash) in NBC’s live production of The Sound Of Music airing December 5th.
Benanti also recently released her debut CD, In Constant Search Of The Right Kind Of Attention, which, recorded at NYC hotspot, 54 Below,...
She won a Tony playing the daughter to Patti LuPone in Gypsy, appeared on the cover of Playboy (during the time of NBC’s short-lived The Playboy Club) and has appeared on TV series such as Go On, Royal Pains, Elementary and, starting next season, Showtime’s Nurse Jackie.
Yep, Laura Benanti proves that she’s up for any daunting task with every new role she takes on and every song she sings.
And speaking of singing, she stars alongside Carrie Underwood and True Blood’s Stephen Moyer as well as sings two numbers with fellow Broadway vet Christian Borle (Smash) in NBC’s live production of The Sound Of Music airing December 5th.
Benanti also recently released her debut CD, In Constant Search Of The Right Kind Of Attention, which, recorded at NYC hotspot, 54 Below,...
- 12/2/2013
- by Jim Halterman
- The Backlot
This episode was called “Cat’s Cradle.” Is this meant to evoke Kurt Vonnegut’s novel, a symbol that a bomb is about to drop on our Liars? Are we talking about the game played by summer camp mean girls with a loop of string? Should we think of that classic guilt-trippy Harry Chapin song, in which parents discover their children grew up to be just like them, Dad? Perhaps its purpose is simply to encourage us to focus on Hanna’s T-shirt, emblazoned with this clue: “Meow.” >^..^<1. Spencer (last week: 8)Spencer could win the Pretty Little Power Rankings this week just for her hair, which was far and away the best of the episode and maybe even the best we’ve seen all season. Major points for versatility — the half-French side-braid, the messy sock bun, the sleek low ponytail that says “I’m here to solve a mystery, people...
- 6/26/2013
- by Jessica Goldstein
- Vulture
Looking for any excuse, Landon Palmer and Cole Abaius are using the Sight & Sound poll results as a reason to take different angles on the greatest movies of all time. Every week, they’ll discuss another entry in the list, dissecting old favorites from odd angles, discovering movies they haven’t seen before and asking you to join in on the conversation. Of course it helps if you’ve seen the movie because there will be plenty of spoilers. This week, they discuss the guilt of disconnecting from your parents – a topic thoroughly explored in Yasujiro Ozu‘s absolutely gorgeous Tokyo Story. Two great questions arise: How did a man who never had children and never drifted from his mother empathize with these characters enough to tell the story so well? and Why hasn’t everyone with parents seen this movie? Cole: So my confession this week is that I hadn’t seen Tokyo Story until now...
- 9/3/2012
- by FSR Staff
- FilmSchoolRejects.com
While the numerous homages that have poured in since the death of Adam "McA" Yauch have been lovely and all, a more lasting tribute is currently being lobbied for in New York, where Brooklyn residents have launched a campaign to have a local park renamed in Yauch's honor. Billboard calls attention to this Facebook petition seeking to transform Brooklyn Heights' Squibb Park—already undergoing renovations to become a skateboarding facility—into Adam Yauch Park, which would then be located near another park named for fellow songwriter and former Brooklyn resident Harry Chapin. Unfortunately, while it would be a nice ...
- 5/22/2012
- avclub.com
After countless musical tributes to the Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch, Brooklyn residents are setting their site on something a little more permanent. Photos: Beastie Boy Adam Yauch's Life and Career in Pictures Residents recently began a Facebook petition to rename Squibb Park, located in Brooklyn Heights, New York, in honor of the late McA. According to the posting, the park is currently undergoing renovations to become a skateboarding facility and gateway to Brooklyn Bridge Park. Photos: Hollywood's Notable Deaths of 2012 The park would sit directly across from the Harry Chapin Playground, named for the folk-rocker, humanitarian and fellow
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- 5/22/2012
- by Sophie A. Schillaci
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
MTV News 'Idol' experts share their choices for Jessica Sanchez, Joshua Ledet and Phillips Phillips.
By Gil Kaufman and James Montgomery
Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips on "American Idol"
Photo: Fox
The "American Idol" season 11 top three have a lot to prove as we head into Wednesday night's (May 16) second-to-last lap.
Likely winner Phillip Phillips has skated through virtually unscathed by pretty much doing a season-long homage to Dave Matthews, while Joshua Ledet has thrilled us with his gritty soul shouting but failed to show much personality along the way (unless you count that one week he wore a flower in his lapel). And Jessica Sanchez? Well, the 16-year-old definitely has powerful pipes and is a diva in the waiting, but she's still not quite ready for prime time.
All three will be tested this week when they have to sing three songs: a judges' choice, a tune...
By Gil Kaufman and James Montgomery
Joshua Ledet and Phillip Phillips on "American Idol"
Photo: Fox
The "American Idol" season 11 top three have a lot to prove as we head into Wednesday night's (May 16) second-to-last lap.
Likely winner Phillip Phillips has skated through virtually unscathed by pretty much doing a season-long homage to Dave Matthews, while Joshua Ledet has thrilled us with his gritty soul shouting but failed to show much personality along the way (unless you count that one week he wore a flower in his lapel). And Jessica Sanchez? Well, the 16-year-old definitely has powerful pipes and is a diva in the waiting, but she's still not quite ready for prime time.
All three will be tested this week when they have to sing three songs: a judges' choice, a tune...
- 5/16/2012
- MTV Music News
July marked the 30th anniversary of musician and social activist Harry Chapin’s untimely death.
The anniversary fell on the heels of WhyHunger’s 12th annual awards ceremony to honor individuals dedicated to issues surrounding food both nationally and globally.
Why is the charity that Chapin co-founded to advance long-term solutions to hunger and poverty. Actor Christopher Walken spoke at the event and artist and activist Harry Belafonte also attended the celebration.
Read more...
The anniversary fell on the heels of WhyHunger’s 12th annual awards ceremony to honor individuals dedicated to issues surrounding food both nationally and globally.
Why is the charity that Chapin co-founded to advance long-term solutions to hunger and poverty. Actor Christopher Walken spoke at the event and artist and activist Harry Belafonte also attended the celebration.
Read more...
- 8/2/2011
- Look to the Stars
WhyHunger is auctioning off two tickets to see Tim McGraw in a rare and private concert at the Beacon Theater in New York this week, but you must be quick to make a bid – the auction only has a few more hours to run!
The concert, which will be broadcast live on Wednesday, April 27 at 7:30 pm Et, will feature the superstar performing songs from his 11 #1 country albums. The private concert will also include performances by Luke Bryan and The Band Perry, who will join McGraw on his upcoming national “Emotional Traffic” tour. The concert will air nationwide live on three SiriusXM channels: “Tim McGraw Radio,” The Highway and Prime Country.
Founded 35 years ago by long-time NYC radio host Bill Ayres and musician Harry Chapin, WhyHunger was created to address hunger issues and to take on long-term solutions to end the cycle of poverty in the Us. Their focus is...
The concert, which will be broadcast live on Wednesday, April 27 at 7:30 pm Et, will feature the superstar performing songs from his 11 #1 country albums. The private concert will also include performances by Luke Bryan and The Band Perry, who will join McGraw on his upcoming national “Emotional Traffic” tour. The concert will air nationwide live on three SiriusXM channels: “Tim McGraw Radio,” The Highway and Prime Country.
Founded 35 years ago by long-time NYC radio host Bill Ayres and musician Harry Chapin, WhyHunger was created to address hunger issues and to take on long-term solutions to end the cycle of poverty in the Us. Their focus is...
- 4/25/2011
- Look to the Stars
Narm, the music business association, has announced that it will honor Grammy and Oscar-winning artist, activist and campaigner, Annie Lennox, with its Harry Chapin Memorial Humanitarian Award in recognition of her outstanding work on behalf of HIV/AIDS awareness and other health, human rights and environmental causes.
The presentation will take place at the 2011 Narm Convention Awards Dinner Finale at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 12.
Read more...
The presentation will take place at the 2011 Narm Convention Awards Dinner Finale at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles on Thursday, May 12.
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- 3/8/2011
- Look to the Stars
I have to confess my age in writing this particular review, because Johnny Carson was off the air by the time I was watching late night television (or rather, watching and appreciating it). For my generation, the names headlining the late night shows were and, with a little bit of controversy, remain Jay Leno and David Letterman. In my case, I had to familiarize myself with Carson through YouTube clips years after he’d retired. Tonight, the most complete compilation of episode’s from Carson’s 30-year-long career as host, starts 4 years into his career (1965) and spans up to 1990 (4 years short of his final bow) in a 15-disc set featuring some great moments and some of the best guest appearances (with a particular focus on comedians for this set, it would seem). It’s doubtful we’ll ever see a full set, just because the undertaking of committing that much...
- 1/24/2011
- by Lex Walker
- JustPressPlay.net
Some of music’s legendary performers have come together as part of a special celebrity charity auction for Hungerthon.
Hungerthon was started in 1975 as a partnership between WhyHunger and Infinity Broadcasting and has since expanded to become an autumn radio tradition among the New York tri-state area radio stations in the CBS, Clear Channel and Emmis Radio Groups, and Sirius Xm Satellite Radio, with support from Citadel New York stations, Last.FM and more.
WhyHunger is a leader in building the movement to end hunger and poverty by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food and by supporting grassroots solutions that inspire self-reliance and community empowerment. WhyHunger was founded in 1975 by the singer-songwriter Harry Chapin and radio talk-show host and current Executive Director Bill Ayres.
Read more...
Hungerthon was started in 1975 as a partnership between WhyHunger and Infinity Broadcasting and has since expanded to become an autumn radio tradition among the New York tri-state area radio stations in the CBS, Clear Channel and Emmis Radio Groups, and Sirius Xm Satellite Radio, with support from Citadel New York stations, Last.FM and more.
WhyHunger is a leader in building the movement to end hunger and poverty by connecting people to nutritious, affordable food and by supporting grassroots solutions that inspire self-reliance and community empowerment. WhyHunger was founded in 1975 by the singer-songwriter Harry Chapin and radio talk-show host and current Executive Director Bill Ayres.
Read more...
- 11/23/2010
- Look to the Stars
Singer Lily Chapin (daughter of Tom Chapin and niece of Harry Chapin), who used to work for two-time Oscar winner Barbara Kopple (this year's filmmaker in residence), with Sarah Adina Smith (director of "The Sirens," which stars the Chapin Sisters), and Woods Hole Film Festival founder and executive director Judy Laster (right) outside Quick's Hole Restaurant in Woods Hole where the Chapin Sisters gave a free live concert at the festival. ...
- 8/4/2010
- Indiewire
On Tuesday, June 21st, WhyHunger held its annual Why-Chapin Awards Dinner.
The event took place in NYC at Gotham Hall, steps from Times Square. The event commemorated WhyHunger’s 35th anniversary and paid tribute to its 2010 award honorees, and the annual dinner was hosted by three-time Grammy Award winner Tom Chapin.
The honorees included legendary folk singer Pete Seeger, who received the WhyHunger-Chapin Award. Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson were honored with the Ascap-Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award. In addition, the Chicago-based non-profit, Growing Home, also received the WhyHunger – Chapin Award.
Read more...
The event took place in NYC at Gotham Hall, steps from Times Square. The event commemorated WhyHunger’s 35th anniversary and paid tribute to its 2010 award honorees, and the annual dinner was hosted by three-time Grammy Award winner Tom Chapin.
The honorees included legendary folk singer Pete Seeger, who received the WhyHunger-Chapin Award. Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson were honored with the Ascap-Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award. In addition, the Chicago-based non-profit, Growing Home, also received the WhyHunger – Chapin Award.
Read more...
- 6/29/2010
- Look to the Stars
Why Hunger will celebrate its 35th anniversary at a special event on June 21.
The organization will pay tribute to the 2010 award honorees Pete Seeger and Growing Home, who will receive the WhyHunger-Chapin Award; and Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson, who will be honored with the Ascap-Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award. These awards will be given in recognition of their inspiring work and dedication on issues of hunger and poverty on a local, national and global level. The annual dinner will be hosted by three-time Grammy Award winner Tom Chapin.
Read more...
The organization will pay tribute to the 2010 award honorees Pete Seeger and Growing Home, who will receive the WhyHunger-Chapin Award; and Nick Ashford & Valerie Simpson, who will be honored with the Ascap-Harry Chapin Humanitarian Award. These awards will be given in recognition of their inspiring work and dedication on issues of hunger and poverty on a local, national and global level. The annual dinner will be hosted by three-time Grammy Award winner Tom Chapin.
Read more...
- 6/15/2010
- Look to the Stars
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