Harry Connick Jr.: Difference between revisions

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{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2016}}

| name              = Harry Connick Jr.

| image              = Harry Connick Jr 2024.jpg

| birth_name        = Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr.

| birth_date        = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1967|09|11}}

| occupation        = {{flat list|

* Singer

| children          = 3

| father            = [[Harry Connick Sr.]]

| module            = {{Infobox musical artist|embed = yes

| background  = solo_singer

}}

Connick's best-selling album in the United States is his [[Christmas]] album ''[[When My Heart Finds Christmas]]'' (1993). His highest-charting album is ''[[Only You (Harry Connick Jr. album)|Only You]]'' (2004), which reached No.{{nbsp}}5 in the U.S. and No.{{nbsp}}6 in [[England|Britain]]. He has won three [[Grammy Awards]] and two [[Emmy Awards]]. He played [[Leo Markus]], the husband of [[Grace Adler]] (played by [[Debra Messing]]) on the NBC sitcom ''[[Will & Grace]]'' from 2002 to 2006.

==Early life==

His parents also owned a [[record store]]. Connick's father was a Roman Catholic of Northern Irish descent,<ref>[http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/life_and_entertainment/2009/02/02/2_NEW_CONNICK.ART_ART_02-02-09_D4_4DCOCL7.html Musician balancing his work as actor|The Columbus Dispatch]. Dispatch.com (February 2, 2009). Retrieved on May 8, 2012.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/film-tv/harry-connick-jr-proud-of-his-co-down-roots-28734758.html|title=Harry Connick Jr proud of his Co Down roots|date=April 6, 2012|access-date=September 10, 2020|work=[[Belfast Telegraph]]}}</ref> while his mother, who died of [[ovarian cancer]] when he was 13 years old, was [[Jewish]] and from New York;<ref name="nyref1">{{cite news |last=Feher |first=Heather |title=Connick Is Mr. Right for 'Grace' |publisher=Zap2it |date=September 26, 2002 |url=http://www.silligirl.com/zap2it/bl11.php |access-date=December 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716071146/http://www.silligirl.com/zap2it/bl11.php|archive-date=July 16, 2011 }}</ref><ref name="Vogue">Stephanie Mansfield, [http://www.connick.com/hcjr/pages/articles/publications/vogue0498.shtml "Deconstructing Harry"], ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'', April 1998: pp. 211, 214, 216; online posting, ''connick.com''. Retrieved July 17, 2007.</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/celebrity/harry-connick-jr-opens-up-about-the-death-of-his-mom/|title=Harry Connick Jr. Says Losing His Mom at Age 13 Was 'Unquestionably the Hardest Thing That's Ever Happened to Me'|first=Danielle|last=Anderson|publisher=People|date=September 16, 2016|accessdate=January 26, 2024}}</ref> his part-Jewish heritage would later inspire him to play Jewish doctor Leo on ''[[Will & Grace]]''.<ref name="nyref1" /> In addition to his career as a prosecutor, Connick Sr. also had a career performing weekly gigs at [[French Quarter]] Clubs.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://apnews.com/article/harry-connick-sr-dead-97-c4dda4469c7b4fbfb4c1773fc17ea6c2|title=Harry Connick Sr., longtime New Orleans district attorney and singer's dad, dies at 97|publisher=Associated Press|date=January 25, 2024|accessdate=January 26, 2024}}</ref> Connick and his sister, Suzanna, were raised in the [[Lakeview, New Orleans|Lakeview]] neighborhood of New Orleans.<ref name="billb" /> Harry Connick began learning to play keyboards at age three, playing publicly at age five, and recording with a local jazz band when he was ten.<ref name=billb>{{cite news |last=Beuttler |first=Bill |title=When Harry Met Stardom |work=Music |publisher=American Way |date=August 1, 1990 |url=http://billbeuttler.com/work41.htm |access-date=October 2, 2007}}</ref> At the age of nine, Connick performed [[Beethoven]]'s [[Piano Concerto No. 3 (Beethoven)|Piano Concerto No. 3 Opus 37]] with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra (now the [[Louisiana Philharmonic]]).

Connick's reputation was growing, and director [[Rob Reiner]] asked him to provide [[When Harry Met Sally... (soundtrack)|a soundtrack]] for his romantic comedy ''[[When Harry Met Sally...]]'' (1989), starring [[Meg Ryan]] and [[Billy Crystal]]. The soundtrack consisted of several [[Standard (music)|standards]], including "[[It Had to Be You (song)|It Had to Be You]]", "[[Let's Call the Whole Thing Off]]" and "[[Don't Get Around Much Anymore]]". The soundtrack earned [[Music recording sales certification|double-platinum]] status in the United States. Connick won his first [[Grammy Award]] for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance for his work on the soundtrack.

In November 1992, Connick released ''[[25 (Harry Connick Jr. album)|25]]'', a solo piano collection of standards that again went platinum. He also re-released the album ''[[11 (Harry Connick Jr. album)|Eleven]]''. Connick contributed "A Wink and a Smile" to the ''[[Sleepless in Seattle]]'' soundtrack, released in 1993. His multi-platinum album of holiday songs, ''[[When My Heart Finds Christmas]]'', was the best-selling Christmas album in 1993.

In 1994, Connick decided to branch out. He released ''[[She (Harry Connick Jr. album)|She]]'', an album of New Orleans [[funk]] that also went platinum. In addition, he released a song called "(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name" for the soundtrack of ''[[The Mask (1994 film)|The Mask]]'', starring [[Jim Carrey]], which is his most successful single in the United States to date.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.masterworksbroadway.com/artist/harry-connick-jr/|title=Harry Connick, Jr. {{!}} The Official Masterworks Broadway Site|newspaper=The Official Masterworks Broadway Site|language=en-US|access-date=2017-01-25}}</ref>

=== Late 1990s: Jazz and ''Hope Floats'' ===

=== 2000–2002: Broadway debut, musicals, ''Will & Grace'' ===

In March 2001, Connick starred in a television production of ''[[South Pacific (2001 film)|South Pacific]]'' with [[Glenn Close]]; it was televised on the [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]] network. He also starred in ''[[Mickey (2004 film)|Mickey]]'', a movie; [[John Grisham]] wrote the screenplay. In October 2001, he released two albums: ''[[Songs I Heard]]'', featuring big band re-workings of children's show themes, and ''[[30 (Harry Connick Jr. album)|30]]'', featuring Connick on piano with guest appearances by several musical artists. ''Songs I Heard'' won Connick a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Album; he toured performing songs from the album, holding matinees. At the performances each parent in attendance had to be accompanied by a child.

=== 2003–2005: ''Connick on Piano'' and ''Only You'' ===

A music DVD ''Harry Connick Jr.{{nsmdns}}"Only You" in Concert'' was released in March 2004, after it had first aired as a ''Great Performances'' special on [[Public Broadcasting Service|PBS]]. The special won him an [[Emmy Award]] for Outstanding Music Direction. The DVD received a Gold & Platinum Music Video{{nsmdns}}Long Form awards from the RIAA in November 2005.

=== 2006–2008: ''The Pajama Game'', ''Bug,'' and ''P.S. I Love You'' ===

[[File:Harry Connick 2007 Savannah concert (picture 2).jpg|thumb|Harry Connick Junior in concert in [[Savannah, Georgia]] on February 27, 2007]]

The third album in the ''Connick on Piano'' series, ''[[Chanson du Vieux Carré]]'' was released in 2007, and Connick received two Grammy nominations for the track "Ash Wednesday" for the Grammy awards in 2008. ''Chanson du Vieux Carré'' was released simultaneously with the album ''[[Oh, My NOLA]]''. He toured North America and Europe in 2007, and toured Asia and Australia in 2008 as part of his [[My New Orleans Tour]]. Connick wrote two songs and did the arrangements for [[Kelli O'Hara]]'s album which was released in May 2008; he also sang a duet on the recording.<ref>{{cite web |last=Scott |first=Brian |url=http://www.theatermania.com/content/news.cfm/story/12186 |title=Kelli O'Hara gets ready to ring in the holidays and prepares for a busy new year; Neal Huff engages in some Trumpery; and Jenn Gambatese enlivens Is He Dead?Feature on |publisher=Theatermania.com |date=November 30, 2007 |access-date=July 25, 2010}}</ref> He was the featured singer at the Concert of Hope immediately preceding [[Pope Benedict XVI]]'s mass at [[Yankee Stadium (1923)|Yankee Stadium]] in April 2008. He had the starring role of [[Dr. Dennis Slamon]] in the Lifetime television film ''[[Living Proof (2008 film)|Living Proof]]'' (2008). His third Christmas album, ''[[What a Night! A Christmas Album|What a Night!]]'', was released in November 2008.

On June 11, 2013, Connick released a new album of all original music titled ''Every Man Should Know''. Connick debuted the title track live on the May 2, 2013, episode of ''[[American Idol]]'' and appeared on ''[[The Ellen DeGeneres Show]]'' the following week to discuss his new project. A 2013 US summer tour was announced in support of the album.

''[[Angels Sing]]'', a family Christmas movie released in November 2013 by [[Lionsgate Studios|Lionsgate]], afforded Connick an onscreen collaboration with fellow musician [[Willie Nelson]]. The two wrote a special song exclusively for the movie. Shot in [[Austin, Texas]], ''Angels Sing'' features actor/musicians [[Connie Britton]], [[Lyle Lovett]], and [[Kris Kristofferson]] and is directed by [[Tim McCanlies]], who previously worked with Connick in ''The Iron Giant''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://variety.com/2013/film/reviews/film-review-when-angels-sing-1200007499/ |title=SXSW Review 'When Angels Sing' |date=March 12, 2013}}</ref>

In January 2019, it was announced that Connick was hired by piano instruction software company Playground Sessions as a video instructor.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2019/01/21/harry-connick-jr-playground-sessions-app/2586733002/ |title=Harry Connick Jr. has a new gig: piano teacher on Playground Sessions app|website=Usatoday.com |date=2019-01-21 |access-date=2019-03-07}}</ref>

== Touring Big Band members ==

== Personal life ==

Connick wrote his daughter Sarah's debut song "A Lot Like Me" in 2011, which she released under the name Kate Connick, using her middle name professionally. The song was released to celebrate the debut of [[American Girl]]'s newest historical characters Cecile Rey and Marie Grace Gardner.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.marsalismusic.com/kate-connick|title=Kate Connick &#124; Marsalis Music|website=Marsalismusic.com}}</ref> The proceeds from the song went towards the Ellis Marsalis Center for Music.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://ew.com/article/2011/08/12/harry-connick-jr-american-girl-new-orleans/|title=Harry Connick Jr. talks American Girl|website=Ew.com}}</ref>

* ''[[When Harry Met Sally... (soundtrack)|When Harry Met Sally]]'' (1989) [Soundtrack album]

* ''[[We Are in Love]]'' (1990)

* ''[[Blue Light, Red Light]]'' (1991)

* ''[[25 (Harry Connick Jr. album)|25]]'' (1992)

* ''That Would Be Me'' (2015)

* ''True Love: A Celebration of Cole Porter'' (2019)

{{div col end}}

|-

| 2003

| Pete Vilmer

|

| rowspan="2" |2021

|''American Idol''

|Episode: Comeback Show

|-

| 2023

| ''Australian Idol''

| Season 8 with [[Kyle Sandilands]], [[Meghan Trainor]] and [[Amy Shark]]

|-

| 2025

| ''[[The Piano (TV series)|Piano]]'' (Australian version)

| Season 1 with Andrea Lam  

|}

* 2010 ''[[Harry Connick Jr.: In Concert on Broadway]]'' (special, concert)<ref>[http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Tix_On_Sale_Today_For_HARRY_CONNICK_JR_IN_CONCERT_ON_BROADWAY_20100504 Tix On Sale Today For Harry Connick Jr. in Concert on Broadway], broadwayworld.com, May 4, 2010</ref>

* 2011 ''[[On a Clear Day You Can See Forever]]'' (Broadway Musical)

==References==

==Further reading==

* [http://www.bluesandsoul.com/feature/478/harry_connick_jr_connick_timing/ Harry Connick Jr. interview by Pete Lewis, 'Blues & Soul' November 2009]

* {{cite news |last=Eggar |first=Robin |title=When Harry met Katrina |work=The Times |date=September 30, 2007 |url=http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2541258.ece |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110616141216/http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/music/article2541258.ece |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2011 |access-date=October 2, 2007 |location=London}}

* "[http://www.abc.net.au/rn/musicshow/stories/2005/1414966.htm Harry Connick Jr. discusses playing, singing and arranging.]" [radio transcript]. 2005. ''The Music Show''. Presented by Andrew Ford.

==External links==

{{s-ach}}

{{s-bef|before= [[Bill Conti]]<br />for ''[[75th Academy Awards|75th Annual Academy Awards]]''}}

{{s-aft|after = Michael Kosarin<br />for ''[[A Christmas Carol (2004 film)|A Christmas Carol]]''}}

{{s-bef|before= Harry Connick Jr.<br />for ''[[When Harry Met Sally... (soundtrack)|When Harry Met Sally...]]''}}

{{s-aft|after = [[Take 6]]<br />for ''He Is Christmas''}}

{{s-bef|before= [[Bobby McFerrin]]<br />for ''Brothers''}}

{{Harry Connick Jr.}}

{{EmmyAward MusicDirection}}

{{Subject bar |portal1=Biography |portal2=Film |portal3=Jazz |portal4=Music|portal27=Theatre|commons=yes |q=yes}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Connick, Harry Jr.}}

[[Category:1967 births]]

[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]

[[Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters]]

[[Category:20th-century American jazz composers]]

[[Category:20th-century Roman Catholics]]

[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]

[[Category:American male stage actors]]

[[Category:American male television actors]]

[[Category:American Roman Catholics]]

[[Category:Catholics from Louisiana]]

[[Category:Traditional pop music singers]]

[[Category:Judges in American reality television series]]