Lakeside Theatre Hosts Third Annual Harry Chapin Tribute on August 27

In July of 1981, folk singer and activist Harry Chapin died in an auto accident on the way to perform at Eisenhower Park. This summer, on Monday, August 27, at 7:30 p.m., two dozen of Long Island’s top singer-songwriters will again gather in Eisenhower Park to pay tribute to Chapin at the outdoor theater that bears his name, announced Nassau County Executive Thomas R. Suozzi.

“We are very fortunate that such a fine group of accomplished musicians have donated their time and talent to honor Harry Chapin, a Long Island icon," says Suozzi. "It offers us an excellent opportunity to enjoy a unique evening of entertainment, while supporting a very worthy cause.” 

Admission to the concert is free, but concert-goers are asked to bring donations of non-perishable food for Long Island Cares and cash donations for World Hunger Year, charities founded by Chapin.

The concert, organized by Malverne singer-songwriter Stuart Markus, is the third annual assemblage of Chapin’s friends and admirers at the Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park. The performers hope to top the success of last year’s concert, which drew a crowd of 3,000 and raised more than 1,000 pounds of food. The concerts have raised a total of approximately 1.25 tons of food.

World Hunger Year Executive Director Bill Ayres, who co-founded the organization with Chapin, is expected to be on hand at the concert along with representatives from both charities, to assist with collections. Members of the Island Songwriters Showcase, a workshop group that traces its roots back to Chapin’s living room get-togethers in the 1970s, are also planning to volunteer.

The slate of participating musicians and bands includes Markus (who has achieved local fame as the balladeer of Long Island groundhog Malverne Mel); husband-and-wife team Tom Griffith and Martha Trachtenberg; Judith Zweiman; members of the Defibrillators and Tornado Alley; Frank Walker; Robin Eve; Terry Winchell; Doc Butler & JC Cob; Josh Joffen; Folk Fiction; Wonderous Stories; Cathy Kreger; MediaCrime; Debra Lynne; Doug Kwartler; Seth Davis; Ed Ryan; and Glen Roethel.

Lakeside Theatre is located near parking fields 6 and 6A. Special accommodations are available for disabled patrons, including reserved parking, easily accessible restrooms, and a convenient reserved location on the hill. Assistive hearing devices are available for the hearing impaired. There is no formal seating at Lakeside Theatre, so concert-goers are urged to bring folding chairs. If weather conditions are doubtful, call (516) 572-0355 after 7 p.m. for updated performance information.

Eisenhower Park is located in East Meadow with entrances on Hempstead Turnpike at East Meadow Avenue and at the intersection of Stewart and Merrick avenues For more information, call the Public Information at 516-572-0200 weekdays during business hours.