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Stylish performer
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A prodigious talent, Harry Connick Junior tasted success on big screen too
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Born Joseph Harry Fowler Connick at New Orleans, he made a mark as a five year old with his rendition of the Star Spangled Banner at his attorney general father's swearing in. While still a child, he came under the tutelage of legendary New Orleans pianist James Booker, who taught the young boy at home. When just 11, Connick cut his first album.
His self-titled album featured his felicity with jazz and as a New Orleans styled pianist. His fondness for the 40s and 50s tradition of showbiz, good looks and fluent performance style made him an instant hit with the media, if not the ladies. Stardom followed soon after with his appearance on the soundtrack of the hit movie When Harry met Sally. That won him a Grammy Award for male jazz vocal and his next release, We Are In Love, earned him the coveted award again. His record sales were enviable--two albums went gold and three, platinum.
Hollywood foray
His foray into Hollywood didn't end there, for he played a crew member of a US B 17 bomber in the 1990 film Memphis Belle. In the following year, he co-starred with Jodie Foster in Little Man Tate. His arrest for carrying a 9 mm pistol at New York's Kennedy airport barely made a dent to his popularity as his subsequent work revealed. After a night in jail, he recorded a TV commercial warning against violating gun laws.
His vintage performance with A wink and a smile for the 1993 film Sleepless in Seattle was lapped up eagerly. His next album, She, and a tour of the UK left those who looked forward to his crooning, disappointed, for here he was exploring New Orleans funk. Star Turtle had him communing with a turtle in outer space and when he realised his new avatar wasn't going down too well with his fans, Connick returned to his swing and ballad roots.
A. GEORGE ANTONY
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