Art imitates life, as the accurate saying goes, and vice versa.
A new documentary by Jason Chapin, S.A. Baron and Rick Korn, Harry Chapin — Cat’s in the Cradle: The Song That Changed Our Lives (Greenwich Entertainment), is now a case in point in both directions on major streaming services. And not just regarding the late American singer/songwriter and humanitarian who recorded its title tune.
Chapin (1942-1981) was a New York City native who got a delayed start in music while in his late 20s, and whose life and career were cut short by a fatal collision as he was driving on the Long Island Expressway.
Five years prior to his death, Chapin met a young fan named Jason Colannino, who got his autograph during an appearance at Brookdale Community College in Lincroft, N.J.
Duly influenced by Chapin, the young New Jersey native and very early concert-goer turned into the future vocalist, guitarist, ukulele player and songwriter who’s become one of South Florida’s busiest solo performers since moving to the area in 1992.
The Boynton Beach-based Colannino appears in Chapin’s new documentary, directed by Korn and released to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the No. 1 single “Cat’s in the Cradle,” co-written by his wife Sandra Chapin.
The South Florida resident is in heady and varied company. Billy Joel, Judy Collins, Pat Benatar, and members of acts from Chicago to Twisted Sister; Run-D.M.C. to Ugly Kid Joe also discuss its memorable folk-tinged melody, plus timeless lyrics that center on a son whose father doesn’t make time for him during his youth, only to return the non-favor as his father advances in age.
“I heard from Rick Korn, who’d also directed the 2020 documentary ‘Harry Chapin: When In Doubt, Do Something,’” Colannino says. “That film was about half on Harry’s music; half his world hunger activism. Harry’s son Jason Chapin had contacted me previously regarding the new documentary about the cultural impact of ‘Cat’s in the Cradle.’ I’d first heard the song at age 6, and saw Harry perform it, ‘Taxi,’ ‘Circle’ and several other memorable songs in concert that year. Then I got to meet him a year later before his concert at the college where my mother worked.”
Colannino performs parts of “Cat’s in the Cradle” in the new documentary, and recalls hearing the song for the first time, both in general and in a live setting. The photo of him as a 7-year-old with Chapin before his 1976 concert in New Jersey also appears in the film.
“Jason knows more songs by heart than anyone I’ve ever worked with,” says bassist Bruce Freeland, who plays monthly duo shows with Colannino at Aruba Beach Cafe in Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, the next of which is Dec. 22.
“He has an amazing memory. When Davy Jones of the Monkees died in 2012, we had a gig shortly thereafter and Jason sang several of his tunes. His brain is like a library.”
The title of Colannino’s latest album, A Hawaiian Music Tribute (2015), shows the influence of repeated trips to the island state with his wife, Kim Colannino. His vocals and ukulele skills are also now featured with the group Sounds of Aloha, which appears on the Great Lawn in downtown West Palm Beach for an afternoon holiday concert Dec. 21.
Previous Colannino album releases are Since 1969 (1997), Piece of the Sun (2004) and Lost in Vacation (2014). He’s currently premiering original songs from his forthcoming fifth release at live shows.
An expert mimic, Colannino’s list of cover tunes on his website is nearly as long as Tolstoy’s War and Peace, ranging far and wide and including The Beatles, Joni Mitchell, Pink Floyd, The Grateful Dead, Bruce Springsteen and Bob Dylan as well as Chapin. Since his emergence in South Florida, Colannino has seen the regional music scene undergo a slow march away from stressing original material toward its current tribute act mania.
“I’ve actually been accused of being a main cause of that,” says Colannino. “I’ve done tribute shows to Harry, as well as Crosby, Stills & Nash, Neil Young, James Taylor, Paul Simon and others.”
It’s a fair point and admission. But most cover song artists aren’t as adept at the vocal phrasing and intonation, as well as the subtle instrumental arrangements, as Colannino. And very few tribute act performers have released a handful of albums of all-original material.
If You Go
See Jason Colannino at 5:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at Belle’s at Safe Harbor Marina, 116 Lakeshore Drive, North Palm Beach (561-626-2280); noon Dec. 7 and 28 at Beachcomber Resort, 1200 S. Ocean Blvd., Pompano Beach (954-941-7830); 6 p.m. Dec. 11 and 18 at The Cooper, 4610 PGA Blvd., Suite 100, Palm Beach Gardens (561-622-0032); 6 p.m. Dec. 19 at Leftovers Cafe, 451 University Blvd., Jupiter (561-627-6030); 4 p.m. Dec. 21 in the Aloha Islanders Tropical Holiday Spectacular on the Grand Lawn, 100 N. Clematis St., West Palm Beach (561-822-1515); 4 p.m. Dec. 22 with bassist Bruce Freeland at Aruba Beach Café, 1 Commercial Blvd., Lauderdale-By-The-Sea (954-776-0001), and 7 p.m. Dec. 26 at Thirsty Turtle Seagrill, 13981 U.S. 1, Juno Beach (561-627-8991).
Info: jasoncolannino.com