Who is Harry Connick Jr.? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Joseph Harry Fowler Connick Jr.

Age: 56 Years, 56 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Jill Goodacre

father: Harry Connick Sr.

mother: Anita Frances

siblings: Suzanna

children: Charlotte, Georgia Tatum, Sara Kate

Born Country: United States

Quotes By Harry Connick Jr. Millionaires

Height: 6'1" (185 cm), 6'1" Males

U.S. State: Louisiana

City: New Orleans, Louisiana

More Facts

education: Jesuit High School, New Orleans, LA (1985), Hunter College

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Childhood & Early Life:

Harry Connick, Jr. was born Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. to Anita Levy, a lawyer, judge, and later, a Louisiana Supreme Court justice, and Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Sr., District Attorney of Orleans Parish.

He started learning the keyboard at three. At nine, he performed with the New Orleans Symphony Orchestra, and later played a duet with Eubie Blake at the Royal Orleans Esplanade Lounge.

Connick attended Jesuit High School, Isidore Newman School, and Lakeview School. He enhanced his musical talent at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts, and under the tutelage of Ellis Marsalis and James Booker.

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Career

Connick studied at Hunter College, and the Manhattan School of Music. Columbia Records persuaded him to sign with them, and brought out “Harry Connick Junior”, an instrumental album, and “20”, featuring his vocals.

He provided the soundtrack to Rob Reiner’s 1989 romantic comedy, “When Harry Met Sally”. It included “It Had to Be You”, “Let’s Call the Whole Thing Off” and “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore”.

He wrote and arranged the songs for “Blue Light, Red Light”, his third consecutive multi-platinum album, released in October 1991. He starred in “Little Man Tate” directed by Jodie Foster.

His 1993 “When My Heart Finds Christmas” went multi-platinum, and was one of the bestselling Christmas albums in the US. He composed “A Wink and a Smile” to the “Sleepless in Seattle” soundtrack.

In 1994, he released “She”, an album of New Orleans funk that also went platinum. He also released the song, “(I Could Only) Whisper Your Name”, for the soundtrack of the movie, “The Mask”.

The film “Copycat” was released in 1995 in which Connick plays a serial killer. A year later, his second funk album, “Star Turtle”, was released. He also appeared in the blockbuster movie, “Independence Day”.

His 1997 album, “To See You”, consisted of original love songs. He toured the US and Europe, and played at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo. He also starred in “Excess Baggage”.

His first leading role was in the movie, “Hope Floats” in 1998. The next year, he released the album, “Come By Me”, and set out on a world tour.

In 2005, he appeared in “A Concert for Hurricane Relief”, in support of victims of Hurricane Katrina. He was made honorary chair of Habitat for Humanity’s Operation Home Delivery, a plan to re-build homes.

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Connick’s third album on Piano series was “Chanson du Vieux Carr�”. He received two Grammy nominations for the track “Ash Wednesday”. His third Christmas album, “What a Night!” was released in November 2008.

In 2009, he starred in “New in Town” opposite Ren�e Zellweger, and in the Broadway revival of “On a Clear Day You Can See Forever”. His album, “Your Songs”, was collaborated with Clive Davis.

Connick appeared as a mentor on American Idol Season 9 and Season 12. He performed “Every Man Should Know”, the title track from his latest album.

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Major Works

Connick’s “Promise Me You’ll Remember”, the Godfather III soundtrack, was nominated for an Academy Award and a Golden Globe in 1991. “Swingin Out Live” got him an Emmy nomination for Best Performance.

2003 saw him release “Other Hours: Connick on Piano Volume 1”, his first instrumental album in fifteen years. He also released his second Christmas album, “Harry for the Holidays”, which was later certified platinum.

The album, “Occasion: Connick on Piano, Volume 2”, also featuring Branford Marsalis on saxophone, was recorded in 2005. A music DVD, “A Duo Occasion”, was filmed at the Ottawa International Jazz Festival.

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Awards & Achievements

The soundtrack for “When Harry Met Sally” won Connick his first Grammy in the Best Jazz Male Vocal Performance category. The album “We Are in Love” earned him his second Grammy.

In 2001, he wrote the score for the musical “Thou Shalt Not” which earned a Tony Award nomination. He released “Songs I Heard”, which won a Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Only You” was released in 2004. It was telecast as a Great Performances special on PBS. A DVD of the special received a Gold & Platinum Music Video — Long Form awards from the RIAA.

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Personal Life & Legacy

On April 16, 1994, Connick married model Jill Goodacre, daughter of Glenna Goodacre. The song “Jill” from “Blue Light, Red Light” is about her. They have three daughters: Georgia Tatum, Sarah Kate and Charlotte.

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Trivia

This talented actor-composer changed the lyrics of the song “It Had to Be You” from “I love you still” to “I love you, Jill”, in the New York Big Band Concert video.

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2011	Outstanding Music Direction	Great Performances (1971)
2004	Outstanding Music Direction	Great Performances (1971)

2002	Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album	Winner
1991	Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male	Winner
1990	Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male	Winner

Harry Connick Jr. Biography