Harry Connick, Jr. has received numerous awards and recognition throughout his career, including multi-platinum albums and gold albums, Grammy, Emmy and Emmy awards, a leading role in a Tony-winning Broadway musical, and many more. Harry Connick, Jr. is a true American icon. Few artists can match his stature and few have the ability to cover so much of the entertainment industry. Harry was born in New Orleans and is where you’ll find his passion for music and performing. He was just five years old when he started performing. His talent was influenced by his studies with Ellis Marsalis and James Booker. Harry was ten years old when he recorded his first jazz album. He then moved to New York at the age of 18. His self-titled debut major label album for Columbia Records was released within a year. His 20th album was his debut, and it was the first time that people heard his incredible voice. Harry’s breakthrough success as a musician was when Rob Reiner, director, asked him to score the soundtrack to the 1989 hit film “When Harry Met Sally”. This film’s success led Harry to his first multi-platinum album. It also marked Harry’s debut Big Band recording. In the 1990’s, Harry discovered his full artistic potential. These groundbreaking albums are a mix of his musical talents. Lofty’s Roach Souffle features original instrumentals and vocals. Funk exploration on She and Star Turtle. Romantic balladry at To See You. Harry seamlessly woven his talents together in the Big Band tour-de-force: Come by me. It was a fitting end to a decade of vibrant success. The album “…easily was hailed by the San Francisco Chronicle as the greatest achievement in Harry’s career. Come by me debuted at #1 on Billboard Jazz Chart, and remained there for several months. Harry made his film debut opposite Matthew Modine and Eric Stoltz in 1990 in the drama Memphis Belle. He appeared in Jodie Foster’s directorial debut, Little Man Tate. The Washington Post recognized Little Man Tate as “…intrinsically touching the following year. Harry’s next role was a homicidal sociopath, which he changed his tunes for. Copycat is 1995’s Copycat. He was praised by critics, with the New York Times calling him “scarily efficient” and the Tampa Tribune naming Harry as the “most memorable” actor in a cast that also included Holly Hunter, Sigourney Weber, and Sigourney Weaver. Harry’s next role was in Independence Day 1996, which was one of the most successful movies ever made. Harry closed the 90’s in film with a bang, just as he did musically. Harry was cast alongside Sandra Bullock in Hope Floats 1999. He received a Blockbuster Award nomination as Favorite Actor – Drama/Romance. The L.A. Times affirmed Connick’s influence, declaring that “…there was no doubt about it. Harry then contributed his voiceover talent to the critically-acclaimed feature My Dog Skip and animated, The Iron Giant. Harry also conquered another genre of film with Linda Yellen’s improvisational film The Simian Line. Variety called his performance with Lynn Redgrave, his costar, “”…achingly real.” Harry had an acting talent that was unstoppable and seemed endless. Harry was a huge success on jazz charts, had great crossover success on pop charts, and was gaining a lot of film credits. The new millennium was bright for him. He continued to be an actor and had a significant impact on theater, film, television, and television. Harry filmed Life Without Dick in 2001. He starred alongside Glenn Close in ABC’s South Pacific production. Then, he took his success to the small screen with a recurring role as Will on NBC.
