DC SCORES schools join star-studded audience for concert at Library of Congress

ASCAP President Paul Williams (left) and musician Tom Chapin.

-- Written by Cory Chimka, Elementary School Program Director

Libraries are supposed to be quiet places, but there was no librarian shushing the packed house in the Montpelier Room of the U.S. Library of Congress Monday afternoon.

DC SCORES poet-athletes from Noyes Education Campus and MacFarland Middle School joined Senator Patrick Leahy and Congressman Howard Berman -- along with a host of legendary and influential songwriters from around the country -- to celebrate the family friendly catalogue of three-time Grammy Award-winning singer/songwriter Tom Chapin. The event was hosted by longtime America SCORES partner, the American Society of Composers, Authors, & Publishers.

After greetings by the Vermont senator and California congressman, ASCAP President Paul Williams took the stage. He spoke about his career and the careers of the star-studded audience, rattling off popular song after song and TV theme after TV theme penned by those in the room.

Three-time Grammy winner Tom Chapin performs.

Williams drew the biggest response from the young crowd when he revealed that he had written the song “Rainbow Connection,” made famous by Kermit the Frog and more recently appeared on the hit Nickelodeon show “Yo Gabba Gabba.” 

Williams then ushered man of the hour Tom Chapin to the stage, and Chapin introduced his band and launched into a set of hits that included “This Pretty Planet,” “My Town is a Salad Bowl,” “Family Tree,” and “R-E-C-Y-C-L-E.”

The teams from Noyes and MacFarland clapped, sang and danced their way through an hour of music before receiving a special catered snack pack, hopping back on their busses, and humming Chapin’s infectious tunes all the way back to school.