Emmy award winning Stephanie Castillo might live in sunny Hawaii but this has not altered her resolve to tell the remarkable, never-been-told story of Thomas Chapin, a New Yorker, and jazz master who was gone too soon. Chapin’s music lives on and Castillo wants to start filming the story of his remarkable life this summer!
In a short time Chapin rose to the top ranks of contemporary jazz. In his 20’s he was Lionel Hampton’s music director, and during his 30’s he was the top star and leading recording artist of New York’s famed Knitting Factory during the 80s and 90s. Thomas Chapin was gaining altitude, playing on the big world stages of jazz, and reaching a global audience when he suddenly got sick while touring in Africa. Tragically, Chapin was diagnosed with leukemia and battled the deadly disease for one year. In 1998 at age 40 he died. Cited as a virtuoso, an iconoclast, a raucous player with an original sound, today they called Chapin an ambassador, and a bridge between the uptown, jazz traditionalists and the downtown, avant gardists. Chapin was one of a few artists who could flow freely, and proficiently between both worlds. Castillo is asking for New Yorker’s support to help tell this remarkable story and help preserve the legend of Thomas Chapin. The 18-minute trailer is available to view at the Kickstarter link:
Stephanie J. Castillo, the filmmaker
Fabulous, thanks Kennedy, thanks Susan, for helping spread the word about my film. Just 8 days left at Kickstarter. I hope this stirs up some new backers to help us meet our goal of shooting the film in NYC and other places THIS SUMMER!! We’d love to welcome you and thank you for support us at http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/290658030/night-bird-song-the-thomas-chapin-story