Harry Connick Jr
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Harry Connick Jr is a singer, musician and an actor. Most of his albums are on the top of the charts. He has sold millions of copies of his albums and is the most accomplished musician in the music scene.
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[edit] About
Singer and actor Harry Connick Jr was born on September 11, 1967 in New Orleans, Louisiana. Both his parents were lawyers. His family also owned a record bar. At the age of three years old, Connick learned how to play the piano by the time he was six he played to the public. When Connick was only 10, he joined a jazz band and recorded with them. Connick then attended the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts where his talents grew. When they moved to New York City, he attended Hunter College and the Manhattan School of Music. He landed a record deal with Columbia Records. His debut album, was purely an instrumental album. When his second album, 20, was issued he added vocals earning him a reputation in jazz.
In 1989, Rob Reiner director of the romantic-comedy film, When Harry Met Sally, included the singles "It Had to Be You", "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off" and "Don't Get Around Much Anymore" in the soundtrack the album went double-platinum. He also took home a Grammy for Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance. In 1990, Connick made his very first film called Memphis Belle. Later that year, he also released two jazz albums titled Lofty's Roach Souffle and We Are in Love. The We Are In Love album won another Best Jazz Male Vocal in the Grammy. In 1991, the single "Promise Me You'll Remember" which was included in the Godfather III soundtrack was nominated in the Golden Globe and Academy Award. October that year, Connick released Red Light, Blue Light another multi-platinum album. He also starred in Jodie Foster's film, Little Man Tate.
In 1992, the young singer was arrested for possession of firearm at the JFK International Airport. Connick spent a day in jail and agreed to make a public-service commercial warning against breaking gun laws. In 1992, Connick issued, 25, a piano collection which went platinum. In 1993, "A Wink and a Smile" was included in the Sleeples in Seattle soundtrack. When My Heart Finds Christmas, achieved multi-platinum. In 1995, he played a killer in the film, Copycat. A funk album was released titled Star Turtle. The album was not a success. In 1997, an album purely of love songs, To See You, was released. In 1999, Connick starred in Excess Baggage. In 1999, Come By Me was released. In 2001, he starred in his first tv series South Pacific. Connick released two consecutive albums later that year, Songs I Heard and 30. In 2003, Connick released, Harry For The Holidays, his second christmas collection. The album went platinum.
[edit] Certifications
| Year | Award | Category |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Grammy | Best Jazz Vocal Performance by a Male |
| 1990 | Billboard Music Award | Jazz Artist |
| 1991 | Grammy | Best Jazz Vocal Performance by a Male |
| 2002 | Grammy | Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album |
| 2004 | Emmy | Outstanding Music Direction |
[edit] Certifications
| Year | US Certification | Format | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Gold | Album | Harry Connick Jr. |
| 1988 | Platinum | Album | 20 |
| 1989 | 2x Platinum | Album | When Harry Met Sally... |
| 1990 | 2x Platinum | Album | We Are In Love |
| 1990 | Gold | Video Longform | Singin' and Swingin' |
| 1990 | Platinum | Video Longform | Swinging Out Live |
| 1991 | 2x Platinum | Album | Blue Light, Red Light |
| 1992 | Platinum | Album | 25 |
| 1993 | 3x Platinum | Album | When My Heart Finds Christmas |
| 1993 | Gold | Video Longform | The New York Big Band Concert |
| 1994 | Platinum | Album | She |
| 1996 | Gold | Album | Star Turtle |
| 1997 | Gold | Album | To See You |
| 1999 | Gold | Album | Come By Me |
| 2003 | Platinum | Album | Harry for the Holidays |
| 2004 | Platinum | Album | Only You |
| 2004 | Platinum | Video Longform | Only You - in Concert |
[edit] Chart Toppers
| Year | Album | Adult Contemporary | The Billboard Hot 100 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | (I Could Only) Whisper Your Name | 19 | 67 |
| 1996 | Hear Me In The Harmony | 18 | |
| 2004 | Blue Christmas | Adult Contemporary | 21 |
| 2004 | Santa Claus Is Coming To Town | 27 | |
| 2004 | The Christmas Waltz | 26 | |
| 2005 | The Happy Elf | 35 |
[edit] News
[edit] Tours & Concerts
Harry Connick, Jr. and his Big Band has embarked on several tours over the span of his career, the most recent one is the My New Orleans Tour.
| Tour | Date | In Support Of | Legs |
|---|---|---|---|
| My New Orleans Tour | February 2007 — ? 2008 | Oh, My Nola, Chanson du Vieux Carré | North America, Europe, South East Asia, Australia |
[edit] Announcements
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
 Released: November 17, 1987 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: October 28, 1988 Label: CBS/Columbia |
 Released: July 21, 1989 Label: CBS/Columbia |
 Released: July 3, 1990 Label: CBS/Columbia |
 Released: July 3, 1990 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: Sepember 23, 1991 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: November 20, 1992 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: November 20, 1992 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: October 26, 1993 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: July 24, 1994 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: July 2, 1996 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: November 11, 1997 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: June 1, 1999 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: October 23, 2001 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: October 23, 2001 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: July 15, 2003 Label: Marsalis Music/Rounder Records |
 Released: October 28, 2003 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: February 3, 2004 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: June 14, 2005 Label: Marsalis Music/Rounder Records |
 Released: May 9, 2006 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: January 30, 2007 Label: Marsalis Music/Rounder Records |
 Released: January 30, 2007 Label: Sony/Columbia |
 Released: September 22, 2009 Label: Sony/Columbia |
[edit] Singles
| Year | Single | Label | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Recipe for Love | Sony | We Are In Love |
| 1994 | Whisper Your Name | Columbia | Whisper Your Name |
| 1997 | Let's Just Kiss | Columbia | 20 |
| 1998 | Learn to Love | Columbia | To See You |
| 1999 | Come by Me | Sony | Come By Me |
| 2009 | (They Long to Be) Close to You | Sony | Your Songs |
[edit] Compilations & Live Releases
 March 27, 2001 Sony International |
 December 28, 1999 Columbia |
[edit] Other artists
[edit] Similar artists
[edit] Influences
[edit] Contemporaries
[edit] Trivia
- He was included as one of the twelve Promising New Actors of 1990.
- He holds a U.S. patent for an electric sheet music distribution system that he created.
- Harry gave up smoking at the insistence of Mel Tormé.
- He was the Narrator for the film My Dog Skip, which was released in 2000.
[edit] Reviews
Harry Connick Jr sounds better as a solo act doing his funky grooves than the big band ventures. Connick takes an old sound to a brand new level. When he first started he sounded like a young Sinatra adding his new funky mix. His band, is a group consisted of four but they made is think that there were more instruments playing. Connick also composed his songs that is why the album has a strong feel. --Mimi 09:15, 27 March 2007 (PST)
