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Harry Connick Jr Bio
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Harry Connick Jr.Harry Connick Jr. is a singer, songwriter, pianist, actor, and producer who is also well known for his charity work and for his lifelong devotion to his hometown, New Orleans.
Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr. was born on September 11, 1967, in New Orleans, Louisiana. His parents were both lawyers. His father went on to become a district attorney, and his mother was a Supreme Court justice, but sadly died of ovarian cancer when Connick Jr. was just thirteen years old. As a side venture, they owned a record store, which stemmed Connick Jr.’s fascination with music from a very early age, starting piano lessons at the age of three. By six, the future music megastar was playing his first concerts, and by ten he was recording music with a local jazz band. His musical talent was developed under the tutelage of Ellis Marsalis and James Booker, and he attended the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts alongside the prestigious Isidore Newman School. At eighteen Connick Jr. moved to New York City to study at Hunter College and the Manhattan School of Music. Within a year of his arrival there, he was spotted by a Columbia Records talent scout who persuaded him to sign a recording contract, and in 1986 Connick Jr. released a self-titled first album comprised mostly of instrumental work. Meanwhile, he became a regular performer in NYC jazz clubs, developing an enviable reputation which was only strengthened by the vocal work on his second album, 20.
In 1989, Connick Jr.'s career took a new turn when director Rob Reiner commissioned him to provide a soundtrack for When Harry Met Sally, starring Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, and Carrie Fisher. The film went on to be a huge hit and showcased Connick Jr.'s talents before an international audience. It also led him to develop an interest in the movies, and the very next year he took a part in Memphis Belle alongside Matthew Modine, Eric Stoltz, Billy Zane, and Sean Astin. This proved to be the start of a long and varied acting career, including appearances in such films as Little Man Tate, with Jodie Foster and Dianne Wiest; Copycat, with Sigourney Weaver and Holly Hunter; Independence Day, with Will Smith, Bill Pullman, and Jeff Goldblum; and Life Without Dick, with Sarah Jessica Parker and Johnny Knoxville. Connick Jr. also did voice work for Ted Hughes adaptation The Iron Giant, and for My Dog Skip, which starred Frankie Muniz and Kevin Bacon. In 2003 Connick Jr. moved into producing, working on Harry for the Holidays, with Marc Anthony and Whoopi Goldberg, and The Happy Elf, which featured the voice of Mickey Rooney. As an actor, Connick Jr. also ventured into television, taking a recurring role as Grace's love interest Leo in Will & Grace, alongside Eric McCormack and Debra Messing.
Connick Jr.'s musical career continued to flourish as his later albums demonstrated the full range of his talents, winning him several Grammy awards. He was also nominated for a Tony award for his music and lyrics for Thou Shalt Not, a Broadway adaptation of Émile Zola's Thérèse Raquin. Connick Jr. has released twenty-three albums of his own as well as contributing to several others. Along with his father and Sonny Borey, he founded The Crew of Orpheus, the largest music-based crew to organize parades centered on New Orleans' Mardi Gras.
When Hurricane Katrina struck his beloved city in 2005, Connick Jr. was quick to assist with relief. He helped to organize and host a benefit concert which also featured Kanye West, Faith Hill, Mike Myers, and John Goodman. Subsequently, Connick Jr. contributed to two benefit albums and became chair of Habitat for Humanity's Operation Home Delivery, a project dedicated to helping the city's residents with long-term housing needs. Together with saxophonist Branford Marsalis, he developed a project to build a musicians' village as the city is reconstructed.
Connick Jr. is married to actress and former Victoria's Secret model Jill Goodacre. The couple have three daughters, named Georgia Tatom, Sara Kate, and Charlotte. YUDDY |
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Harry Connick Jr - Rob Reiner commissioned him to provide the soundtrack for 'When Harry Met Sally.' |
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Harry Connick Jr - Commissioned to provide the soundtrack for 'When Harry Met Sally' which starred Billy Crystal . |
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Harry Connick Jr - Was commissioned to provide the soundtrack for 'When Harry Met Sally' which starred Meg Ryan . |
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Harry Connick Jr - Was commissioned to provide the soundtrack for 'When Harry Met Sally' which starred Carrie Fisher . |
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