The charming crooner known best by the name Harry Connick, Jr. was born Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr. on September 11, 1967 in New Orleans, Louisiana. His father was the district attorney of New Orleans. His mother was also a lawyer, judge and former Louisiana Supreme Court justice. In addition to their legal background, Harry Connick, Jr.’s parents also owned a record shop.

By three years old, Harry Connick, Jr. was already showing his musical talent by tinkering about on a keyboard. By age six, he was playing publicly. At age 10, he already made his first recording with a local jazz band. His formal education took place at Jesuit High School and Isidore Newman School in New Orleans.

After graduation, Connick made an attempt to study jazz at Loyola University, but it did not work out. He then moved to New York City to attend the Manhattan School of Music at Hunter College. Before much time passed, a music executive with Columbia Records, which is a subsidiary label of Sony, heard Harry Connick, Jr. and signed him to the label. Soon after, Connick released a self titled album.

His presence in the New York City jazz scene and major label success soon grew Connick a great reputation for musicianship. In 1989, Rob Reiner asked Harry to provide a soundtrack for the movie “When Harry Met Sally.” This was the major break Connick had been waiting for his whole career. The album, mostly comprised of jazz standards, went double-platinum and earned him a Grammy.

Connick then added to his success with an acting debut in the 1990 film Memphis Belle. He also earned another Grammy for his vocal performance on the album “We Are in Love” in the same year. Over the rest of the decade, Connick experienced continued success in both acting and music. His album entitled “She” saw the singer expand his jazz horizons into funk, and he appeared in the most successful film of 1996 alongside Will Smith when he played a role in “Independence Day.”

His first lead role in a film was in the 1998 movie Hope Floats. He starred alongside Sandra Bullock in the well-received romantic comedy. In 2000, he wrote the score for the Broadway musical “Thou Shalt Not,” and it earned Connick a Tony award nomination. The success of Harry Connick, Jr. in the entertainment field is as diverse as his interests, and his talent is seemingly limitless.

In recent years, Harry Connick, Jr. has musically returned to his jazz roots. He is also a noteworthy humanitarian. Connick championed relief efforts for local residents after the Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005. On September 2, 2005, he helped organized and performed on the NBC telethon “A Concert for Hurricane Relief.”

Connick also spent several days touring the flood ravaged areas of his native city to drum up publicity and international attention in order to raise funds to aid flood victims. On September 6, Habitat for Humanity officially named him the honorary chair of their long-term project to rebuild homes in the city.

Connick married his wife, model Jill Goodacre, in 1994. They are happily married with three daughters named Georgia Tatom, Sarah Kate and Charlotte. Their family currently resides in Connecticut.