Harry Connick, Jr. Comes to the Van Wezel, 2/10
The foundation of Connick's art is the music of his native New Orleans, where he began performing as a pianist and vocalist at the age of five. His career took off when he signed with Columbia Records at 18 years old and revealed his stunning piano technique and vivid musical imagination on his self-titled debut album. His follow-up album, "20," announced that Connick was equally gifted as a singer; but this was soon overshadowed by his multi-platinum success with the soundtrack for the hit comedy "When Harry Met Sally..." To date, Connick has released 29 albums, won three Grammy Awards and two Emmy Awards, and garnered sales of 28 million. His most recent releases are "Smokey Mary" and "Every Man Should Know." Harry is currently in the studio working on a new album which has yet to be named.
On television, Connick is perhaps best known for his recurring role on "Will & Grace." Following his very successful stint as a mentor on American Idol, Harry was invited to join Jennifer Lopez and Keith Urban at the judges' table for Season XIII and XIV and saw our local star Sam Woolf grace the American Idol stage.
His Broadway career boasts equal recognition, having received Tony Award nominations as both composer/lyricist for the musical "Thou Shalt Not" and as the lead in the Tony Award-winning revival of "The Pajama Game." He also has adapted "The Happy Elf" for children's theater, starred in the Broadway revival of "On a Clear Day You Can See Forever" and - on the 20th anniversary of his first Broadway concerts at the Lunt-Fontaine Theatre - brought his live show for an extended residency at the Neil Simon Theatre.
Tickets are priced $37.10 -$148.38 and can be purchased at VanWezel.org, the Box Office, or by calling 941-953-3368.
