Harry Connick, Jr.

Harry Connick, Jr.
Harry Connick, Jr. at the New Orleans Jazz Fest 2007. Photo by Stephanie Schoyer
Background information
Birth name	Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr.
Born	September 11, 1967 (1967-09-11) (age 42)
Origin	New Orleans, Louisiana
Genre(s)	Swing Traditional pop Big Band Jazz-funk
Occupation(s)	Singer Pianist Actor composer
Instrument(s)	Vocals and piano
Years active	1977 to present
Label(s)	Adco Productions (1977-1979) Columbia Records (1979-present) Marsalis Music (2003-present)
Website	HarryConnickJr.com

Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. (born September 11, 1967) is an American singer, pianist, composer, actor, and humanitarian. Connick’s music encompasses jazz, some of it very much in the style of the crooners of the 1940s and early 1950s, funk and blues.

Biography

Early life

Harry Connick, Jr. was born Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr.^[1] in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Harry Connick, Sr., who was the district attorney of New Orleans from 1977-2003, ^[2] and Anita, a judge, lawyer, and former Louisiana Supreme Court justice. His parents also owned a record store. Connick, Jr's mother, a native of New York City, was Jewish, and his father is of Irish Catholic background.^[3][4] Connick, Jr. has a sister, Suzanna. He was raised in the Lakeview neighborhood of New Orleans. Connick's musical talents soon came to the fore when he learned the keyboards at the age of three, played publicly at age six and recorded with a local jazz band at ten. At age nine he performed the Piano Concerto No. 3 Opus 37 of Beethoven with the then New Orleans Symphony Orchestra (now the Louisiana Philharmonic). His musical talents were developed at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and under the tutelage of Ellis Marsalis and James Booker.

Connick attended Jesuit High School and Isidore Newman School in New Orleans. After an unsuccessful attempt to study jazz academically, and having given recitals in the classical and jazz piano programs at Loyola University, Connick moved to New York City to study at Hunter College and the prestigious Manhattan School of Music, where a Columbia Records executive persuaded him to sign with that label. His first record for the label, Harry Connick Jr., was a mainly instrumental album of standards. He soon acquired a reputation in jazz because of extended stays at high-profile New York venues. His next album, 20, featured his vocals and added to this reputation.

When Harry Met Sally... — chart and movie success

With Connick's growing reputation, director Rob Reiner asked him to provide a soundtrack for his 1989 romantic comedy When Harry Met Sally..., starring Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal. The soundtrack consisted of several standards, including "It Had to Be You", "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore", and achieved double-platinum status in the United States. He won his first Grammy for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance for his work on the soundtrack.

Connick made his screen debut in Memphis Belle (1990), about a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber crew in World War II. In that year, he began a two-year world tour. In addition, he released two albums in July 1990: the instrumental jazz trio album Lofty's Roach Souffle and a big-band album of mostly original songs titled We Are in Love, which also went double platinum. We Are in Love earned him his second consecutive Grammy for Best Jazz Male Vocal.

"Promise Me You'll Remember", his contribution to the Godfather III soundtrack, was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in 1991. In a year of recognition, he was also nominated for an Emmy for Best Performance in a Variety Special for his PBS special Swingin' Out Live, which was also released as a video. In October 1991, he released his third consecutive multi-platinum album, Blue Light, Red Light, on which he wrote and arranged the songs. In October 1991, he starred in Little Man Tate, directed by Jodie Foster, playing the friend of a child prodigy who goes to college.

Connick was arrested in 1992 and charged with having a 9mm pistol in his possession at JFK International Airport. After spending a day in jail, he agreed to make a public-service television commercial warning against breaking gun laws. The court agreed to drop all charges if Connick stayed out of trouble for six months.

In November 1992, Connick released 25, a solo piano collection of standards that again went platinum. He also re-released the 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.

Flirtation with funk in the mid-1990s

In 1994, Connick decided to branch out. He released 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, starring Jim Carrey, which is his most successful single in the United States to date.

Connick took his funk music on a tour of the United Kingdom in 1994, an effort that did not please some of his fans, who were expecting a jazz crooner. Connick also took his funk music to the People's Republic of China in 1995, playing at the Shanghai Center Theatre. The performance was televised live in China for what became known as the Shanghai Gumbo special. In his third film Copycat, Connick played a killer. Released in 1995, Copycat also starred Holly Hunter and Sigourney Weaver. The following year, he released his second funk album, Star Turtle, which did not sell as well as previous albums, although it did reach No. 38 on the charts. However, he appeared in the most successful movie of 1996, Independence Day, with Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum.

Back to basics: return to jazz, 1999—current

Harry Connick Jr at the Johnny Mercer Theather, Savannah, Georgia Feb 27, 2007

For his 1997 release To See You, Connick recorded original love songs, touring the United States and Europe with a full symphony orchestra backing him and his piano in each city. As part of his tour, he played at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway, with his final concert of that tour in Paris being recorded for a St. Valentine's Day special on PBS in 1998. He also continued his film career, starring in Excess Baggage opposite Alicia Silverstone and Benicio del Toro in 1997.

In May 1998, he had his first leading role in director Forest Whitaker's Hope Floats, with Sandra Bullock as his female lead. He released Come By Me, his first album of big band music in eight years in 1999, and embarked on a world tour visiting the United States, Europe, Japan and Australia. In addition, he provided the voice of Dean McCoppin in the animated film The Iron Giant. Connick wrote the score for Susan Stroman's Broadway musical Thou Shalt Not, based on Émile Zola's novel Thérèse Raquin, in 2000; it premiered in 2001. His music and lyrics garnerned a Tony Award nomination. He was also the narrator of the film My Dog Skip, released in that year.

In March 2001, Connick starred in a television production of South Pacific with Glenn Close, televised on the ABC network. He also starred in his twelfth movie, Mickey, featuring a screenplay by John Grisham that same year. In October 2001, he again released two albums: Songs I Heard, featuring big band re-workings of children's show themes, and 30, featuring Connick on piano with guest appearances by several other musical artists. Songs I Heard won Connick another Grammy for best traditional pop album and he toured performing songs from the album, holding matinees at which each parent had to be accompanied by a child.

In 2002, he received US Patent #6,348,648 for a "system and method for coordinating music display among players in an orchestra."^[5] Connick appeared as Grace Adler's boyfriend (and later husband) Leo Markus on the NBC sitcom Will & Grace from 2002 to 2006. In July 2003, Connick released his first instrumental album in fifteen years, Other Hours Connick on Piano Volume 1. It was released on Branford Marsalis's new label Marsalis Music and led to a short tour of nightclubs and small theaters.

Connick appeared in the film Basic with John Travolta and Samuel L. Jackson. In October 2003, he released his second Christmas album, Harry for the Holidays, which went gold and reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200 album chart. He also had a television special on NBC featuring Whoopi Goldberg, Nathan Lane, Marc Anthony and Kim Burrell. Only You, his seventeenth album for Columbia Records, was released in February 2004. A collection of 1950s and 1960s ballads, Only You, went Top Ten on both sides of the Atlantic and was certified gold in the United States in March 2004. The Only You tour with big band went on in America, Australia and a short trip to Asia. Harry for the Holidays was certified platinum in November 2004. A music DVD Harry Connick Jr. — "Only You" in Concert was released in March 2004, after it had first aired as a Great Performances special on PBS. The special won him an Emmy for Outstanding Music Direction. The DVD received a Gold & Platinum Music Video — Long Form awards from the RIAA in November 2005.

An animated holiday special, The Happy Elf, aired on NBC in December 2005, with Connick as the composer, the narrator, and one of the executive producers. Shortly after, it was released on DVD. The holiday special was based on his original song The Happy Elf, from his 2003 album Harry for the Holidays. Another album from Marsalis Music was recorded in 2005, Occasion : Connick on Piano, Volume 2, a duo album with Harry Connick, Jr. on piano together with Branford Marsalis on saxophone. A music DVD, A Duo Occasion, was filmed at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival 2005 in Canada, and released in November 2005.

He appeared in another episode of NBC sitcom Will & Grace in November 2005, and appeared in additional three episodes in 2006. Bug, a film directed by William Friedkin, is a psychological thriller filmed in 2005, starring Connick, Ashley Judd, and Michael Shannon. The film was released in 2007. He starred in the Broadway revival of The Pajama Game, produced by the Roundabout Theater Company, along with Michael McKean and Kelli O'Hara, at the American Airlines Theatre in 2006. It ran from February 23 to June 17, 2006, including five benefit performances running from June 13 to June 17. The Pajama Game cast recording was nominated for a Grammy, after being released as part of Connick's double disc album Harry on Broadway, Act I.

He hosted the Weather Channel's mini series 100 Biggest Weather Moments which aired in 2007. He was part of the documentary Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037, released in November 2007. He sat in on piano on Bob French's 2007 album Marsalis Music Honors Series: Bob French. He appeared in the film P.S. I Love You, with Hilary Swank and Gerard Butler, released in December 2007. A third album in the Connick on Piano series, Chanson du Vieux Carré was released in 2007, and Connick has received two Grammy nominations for the track "Ash Wednesday", for the upcoming Grammy awards in 2008. Chanson du Vieux Carré was released simultaneously with the album Oh, My NOLA. Connick toured North America and Europe in 2007, and will be touring Asia and Australia in 2008, as part of his My New Orleans Tour. The film New in Town starring Connick and Renée Zellweger, began filming in January 2008, and is to be released in January 2009. Connick did the arrangements for, wrote a couple of songs, and sings a duet on Kelli O'Hara's album that was released in May 2008.^[6] He was also the featured singer at the Concert of Hope immediately preceding Pope Benedict XVI's Mass at Yankee Stadium in April of 2008. He had the starring role of Dr. Dennis Slamon in the 2008 Lifetime TV film Living Proof. His third Christmas album, What a Night!, was released in November 2008.

Involvement for Hurricane Katrina Victims

On September 2, 2005, Harry Connick, Jr. helped to organize, and appeared in, the NBC-sponsored live telethon concert, A Concert for Hurricane Relief, for relief in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. As a native son of New Orleans, he spent several days touring the city, to draw attention to the plight of citizens stranded at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center and other places. At the concert he paired with host Matt Lauer (Today Show), and entertainers including Tim McGraw, Faith Hill, Kanye West, Mike Myers, and John Goodman.

On September 6, 2005, Connick was made honorary chair of Habitat for Humanity’s “Operation Home Delivery,” a long-term rebuilding plan for families victimized by Hurricane Katrina in the Big Easy and along the Gulf Coast of new orleans.

Main article: Musicians' Village

Connick and Branford Marsalis devised an initiative to help restore New Orleans's musical heritage. Habitat for Humanity and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, working with Connick and Branford Marsalis announced December 6, 2005, plans for a Musicians' Village in New Orleans. The Musicians' Village will include Habitat-constructed homes, with an Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, as the area's centerpiece. The Habitat-built homes will provide musicians and anyone else who qualifies the opportunity to buy decent, affordable housing.

Personal life

On April 16, 1994, Connick, Jr. married model Jill Goodacre, originally from Texas, at the St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans, Louisiana. They have three daughters: Georgia Tatom (born April 17, 1996), Sarah Kate (September 12, 1997), and Charlotte (born June 26, 2002). The family currently resides in Connecticut.

He is a founder of the Krewe of Orpheus, a music-based New Orleans krewe, taking its name from Orpheus of classical mythology. The Krewe of Orpheus parades on St. Charles Avenue and Canal Street in New Orleans on Lundi Gras (Fat Monday) — the day before Mardi Gras (Fat Tuesday).

Discography

Main article: Harry Connick, Jr. discography

Filmography

Various

• 1990 Carly in Concert: My Romance Carly Simon - guest artist (VHS)
• 1991 Cheers — TV show guest appearance
• 1992 Super Bowl XXVI — performed U.S. National Anthem
• 1993 The Harry Connick Jr. Christmas Special (CBS)
• 1997 Action League Now!, Rock-A-Big-Baby (TV)(short film) (voice, as "Big Baby")
• 1998 Harry Connick Jr.: Romance in Paris (PBS Special)
• 1999 The Worlds of Harry Connick Jr. (Bravo)
• 2001 Evening at Pops (PBS)
• 2002 Will & Grace (NBC 2002-2006)
• 2003 Harry for the Holidays (NBC)
• 2004 Only You: In Concert (PBS)
• 2007 100 Biggest Weather Moments (The Weather Channel) — host
• 2007 Note by Note: The Making of Steinway L1037

Videography

• 1990 Singin' and Swingin' (Sony Music)
• 1990 Swingin' Out Live (Sony Music)
• 1993 The New York Big Band Concert (Sony Music)
• 1994 The Harry Connick Jr. Christmas Special
• 2003 Harry for the Holidays (Columbia)
• 2004 Only You: In Concert (Sony Music)
• 2005 A Duo Occasion

Broadway

• 2001 Thou Shalt Not (Broadway Musical) — composer
• 2006 The Pajama Game (Broadway Musical)
• 2008 Nice Work If You Can Get It (Broadway Musical) (postponed)^[7]

Further reading

• Beuttler, Bill (1990-08-01). "When Harry Met Stardom", Music, American Way. Retrieved on 2007-10-02. 
• Eggar, Robin (2007-09-30). "When Harry met Katrina", Music, The Times. Retrieved on 2007-10-02. 
• "Harry Connick Jnr discusses playing, singing and arranging." [radio transcript]. 2005. The Music Show. Presented by Andrew Ford.

References

External links

• Harry Connick Jr. official website
• Harry Connick Jr. website on Sony Music
• Harry Connick, Jr. on YouTube
• connick.com : the original Harry Connick, Jr. fan site
• Harry Connick, Jr. at the Internet Movie Database
• Harry Connick, Jr. at the Internet Broadway Database
• Article on Connick's United States patent 6,348,648 for a "system and method for coordinating music display among players in an orchestra."
• Audio interview recorded April 2007 in Toronto, Canada