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| Harry Connick, Jr. |
Connick was born in New Orleans in 1967 to Anita and Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Sr. As a student in Louisiana, Connick always had an interest in jazz and showed a talent for music at an early age. By 1987, with two albums to his credit, Harry Connick, Jr. had already established himself as an up-and-coming performer who was popular in up-market New York clubs. His growing reputation led Rob Reiner to contract Connick for music for the soundtrack of the 1989 film When Harry Met Sally. The film’s success and its outstanding soundtrack opened even more doors to Connick who continued to explore his music, free his talent and even enter into the world of cinema as an actor in comedic, dramatic and romantic roles.
With all of his success, Connick never lost sight of his roots. Loyal to New Orleans, Connick has often paid homage to the Crescent City in his music. In 2005, after Hurricane Katrina devastated much of the Gulf Coast, Connick was among he first to lend a hand to helping the citizens of New Orleans rebuild and grow again. He used his celebrity to enlist television networks like NBC to encourage restoration of New Orleans, organized A Concert for Hurricane Relief and donated many hours building houses for those whose homes had been lost. His work led him to be named honorary chair of Habitat for Humanity’s Operation Home Delivery.
Furthermore, with musician Branford Marsalis, Connick has worked to encourage the growth of New Orlean’s musical heritage by helping to create Musician’s Village where Habitat for Humanity built homes are built to provide affordable housing for musicians or anyone who qualifies.
For his celebrated work in the arts as well as his magnificent kindness and charitable works, Harry Connick, Jr. is this week’s “Humanitarian of the Week.”
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