Virtually Connick
I am loving the idea of getting to put together my own Virtual Concert - and that it all goes for charity in the real world. Given the parameters of this - which is to say the boundaries of my imagination, let me take you on a tour of what I'm thinking.
My headliner will be Harry Connick Jr. I have been a fan of his for so long - his music is so moving and feels so personal to me. I've also enjoyed his forays into film, and can only hope to get to see him on Broadway one day. I'm going to ask him to concentrate his songlist on my favorite album, "She". And, I can only hope that the finale for the show might involve him asking my two intermission performers to join him on stage.
Who Does My Virtual Concert Benefit?
Let's Start The Music!
Flirtation With Funk
Connick took his funk music on a tour of the United Kingdom in 1994, an effort that did not please some of his fans, who were expecting a jazz crooner. Connick also took his funk music to the People's Republic of China in 1995, playing at the Shanghai Center Theatre. The performance was televised live in China for what became known as the Shanghai Gumbo special. In his third film Copycat, Connick played a killer. Released in 1995, Copycat also starred Holly Hunter and Sigourney Weaver. The following year, he released his second funk album, Star Turtle, which did not sell as well as previous albums, although it did reach No. 38 on the charts. However, he appeared in the most successful movie of 1996, Independence Day, with Will Smith and Jeff Goldblum.
(...from Wikipedia)
She
Amazon Price: (as of 12/09/2009)
List Price: $9.98
A Glance At Harry Connick, Jr.
Harry Connick, Jr. (born Joseph Harry Fowler Connick, Jr.; September 11, 1967) is an American singer, actor, composer, and pianist. Connick has sold over 25 million albums worldwide. He is ranked among the top 60 best-selling male artists in the United States since 1952, by the Recording Industry Association of America, with 16 million certified albums. He has seven top-20 U.S. albums, and ten number-one U.S. jazz albums, earning more number-one albums than any other artist in the US jazz chart history.Chart Beat, Billboard.com, April 9, 2009 He has won three Grammy awards and one Emmy Award.
Harry Connick's Discography
* Release Date: January 30, 2007
* Genre: Big band
2007 ~~ Chanson du Vieux Carre : Connick On Piano, Volume 3
* Release Date: January 30, 2007
* Genre: Big band
2006 ~~ Harry on Broadway, Act I
* Release Date: May 9, 2006
* Genre: Cast album
2005 ~~ Occasion : Connick on Piano, Volume 2
* Release Date: June 14, 2005
* Genre: Jazz duo -- Instrumental album (no vocals)
2004 ~~ Only You
* Release Date: February 3, 2004
* Genre: Pop, ballads
2003 ~~ Harry for the Holidays
* Release Date: October 28, 2003
* Genre: Christmas, Big band/Orchestra
2003 ~~ Other Hours : Connick on Piano, Volume 1
* Release Date: July 15, 2003
* Genre: Jazz -- Instrumental album (no vocals)
2002 ~~ Thou Shalt Not
* Release Date: June 18, 2002
* Genre: Cast album - Original Broadway Cast Recording, Music & lyrics by Harry Connick, Jr. (who does not sing on this album)
2001 ~~ Songs I Heard
* Release Date: October 23, 2001
* Genre: Big band/Orchestra
2001 ~~ 30
* Release Date: October 23, 2001
* Genre: Solo piano
1999 ~~ Come by Me
* Release Date: June 1, 1999
* Genre: Big band
1997 ~~ To See You
* Release Date: November 11, 1997
* Genre: Ballads w/Orchestra
1996 ~~ Star Turtle
* Release Date: July 2, 1996
* Genre: Funk
1994 ~~ She
* Release Date: July 12, 1994
* Genre: Funk
1993 ~~ When My Heart Finds Christmas
* Release Date: October 26, 1993
* Genre: Christmas, Big band/Orchestra
1992 ~~ 25
* Release Date: November 24, 1992
* Genre: Piano
1991 ~~ Blue Light, Red Light
* Release Date: September 23, 1991
* Genre: Big band
1990 ~~ Lofty's Roach Souffle
* Release Date: July 3, 1990
* Genre: Jazz trio
1990 ~~ We Are in Love
* Release Date: July 3, 1990
* Genre: Big Band/orchestra
1989 ~~ When Harry Met Sally...
* Release Date: July 13, 1989
* Genre: Big Band/orchestra
1988 ~~ 20
* Release Date: November 1, 1988
* Genre: Solo piano
1987 ~~ Harry Connick Jr.
* Release Date: November 17, 1987
* Genre: Solo piano
1979 ~~ 11
* Release Date: 1979 - Re-released November 20, 1992)
* Genre: Piano, dixieland
1977 ~~ Dixieland Plus
* Release Date: 1977
* Genre: Dixieland
Harry Connick's Involvement With Relief Efforts For Hurricane Katrina
On September 6, 2005, Connick was made honorary chair of Habitat for Humanity's "Operation Home Delivery," a long-term rebuilding plan for families victimized by Hurricane Katrina in the Big Easy and along the Gulf Coast of New Orleans. Connick and Branford Marsalis devised an initiative to help restore New Orleans's musical heritage. Habitat for Humanity and New Orleans Area Habitat for Humanity, working with Connick and Branford Marsalis announced December 6, 2005, plans for a Musicians' Village in New Orleans. The Musicians' Village will include Habitat-constructed homes, with an Ellis Marsalis Center for Music, as the area's centerpiece. The Habitat-built homes will provide musicians and anyone else who qualifies the opportunity to buy decent, affordable housing.
(...from Wikipedia)
Spotlight On "Come By Me"
Come by Me
Amazon Price: $6.99 (as of 12/08/2009)
List Price: $7.99
Used Price: $0.50
What's not to like about this awesome album? With equal precision and confidence, Connick and his 16-piece band (and at times a full symphony orchestra) move seamlessly between the boisterous self-penned title cut, the Mancini standard "Charade," and the Cole Porter gem "Love for Sale." He gives a straight and moving voice and piano take on "Danny Boy," a stepped-up freshness to "There's No Business Like Show Business," and "Cry Me a River," following his unique vision, becomes an emotionally broken Bourbon Street funereal march. Strings swell, horns wail and skronk, high hats tap time, and those magic fingers dance across the keys. All told, Come by Me is a welcome invitation.
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Harry Connick Jr's Filmography
- Not Released Yet Chilled in Miami
* Release Date: TBA
Connick's Character = Ted Mitchell - 2008 Living Proof
* Release Date: October 2008
Connick's Character = Dr. Denny Slamon - 2007 P.S. I Love You
* Release Date: December 21, 2007
Connick's Character = Daniel Connelly - 2007 Bug
* Release Date: May 25, 2007
Connick's Character = Jerry Goss - 2005 The Happy Elf
* Release Date: December 2, 2005
Connick's Character = Lil' Farley (narrator) - 2004 Mickey
* Release Date: April 30, 2004
Connick's Character = Glen Ryan (Tripp Spence) - 2003 Basic
* Release Date: March 28, 2003
Connick's Character = Pete Vilmer - 2001 Life Without Dick
* Release Date: 2001
Connick's Character = Daniel Gallagher - 2001 The Simian Line
* Release Date: November 16, 2001
Connick's Character = Rick - 2001 South Pacific
* Release Date: August 28, 2001 (DVD)
Connick's Character = Lt. Joseph Cable - 2000 My Dog Skip
* Release Date: 2000
Connick's Character = Narrator - 1999 Wayward Son
* Release Date:
Connick's Character = Jesse Banks Rhodes - 1999 The Iron Giant
* Release Date: 1999
Connick's Character = Dean McCoppin - 1998 Hope Floats
* Release Date: May 1998
Connick's Character = Justin Matisse - 1997 Excess Baggage
* Release Date: 29 August 1997
Connick's Character = Greg Kistler - 1996 Independence Day
* Release Date: July 3, 1996
Connick's Character = Captain Jimmy Wilder - 1995 Copycat
* Release Date: October 13, 1995
Connick's Character = Daryll Lee Cullum - 1991 Little Man Tate
* Release Date: October 18, 1991
Connick's Character = Eddie - 1990 Memphis Belle
* Release Date: October 12, 1990
Connick's Character = Sgt. Clay Busby
What Awards Has Harry Connick Jr. Won?
- Emmy Award for Outstanding Music Direction in 2004
for Only You: In Concert - Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album in 2002
for Songs I Heard - Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male in 1991
for We Are In Love - Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Male in 1990
for When Harry Met Sally...
What Do You Think Of Harry Connick Jr.
Travel To New Orleans
The Virtual Concert's Intermissions
My first Virtual Intermission will be Aaron Neville, give a listen to the great video below and you will see why I love this guy.
Spotlight On Aaron Neville
The Very Best of Aaron Neville
Amazon Price: $8.99 (as of 12/09/2009)
List Price: $13.98
Used Price: $4.97
If I had to pick one favorite Aaron Neville album, this would probably be it. His voice is classic, rich, and gorgeous on every track.
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Second Virtual Intermission
Spotlight On Buckwheat Zydeco
The Ultimate Collection
Amazon Price: $10.97 (as of 12/09/2009)
List Price: $13.98
Used Price: $6.74
If you don't already own this album - run, don't walk to get it. Expedite the shipping, get it in your hands right now. Yes, it is that good.
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Pick Up Some More Great Music Before You Go
Recent Harry Connick Jr News
Virtually Connick Guestbook
Thanks for visiting my Virtual Harry Connick Concert and for supporting Planet Gumbo.
Take a moment and let me know you were here, tell me your favorite Harry Connick moment or song...I'd love to hear from you.
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Reply
- AnneReidy AnneReidy Aug 7, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
- He is great! And what a great lens!
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Reply
- AnneReidy AnneReidy Aug 7, 2008 @ 2:41 pm
- He is great! And what a great lens!
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Reply
- kab kab Aug 5, 2008 @ 9:07 pm
- yep. I'm a sap for Harry Conick Jr.
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Reply
- Trillium Trillium Aug 4, 2008 @ 6:04 pm
- Fascinating lens, I love Harry Connick and especially enjoy his movie appearances. Thanks
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Reply
- EverythingMouse EverythingMouse Aug 3, 2008 @ 7:02 pm
- What a great lens and for a great cause.
- Load More
Virtual Concert Week on Squidoo
Music to Raise Money = A Good Time By All
Remember "We Are the World"? Farm Aid? Band Aid? All hosted to raise money for causes. How? Bands got together to perform, raise awareness and donate money. What a great idea!
Summer is concert season. It seems like all bands go on tour. Nothing like live music on a warm summer night!
What if you could host a benefit concert? You have a cause that's important to you. What better way to have it announced than by your favorite performer in a room full of people who paid big bucks to get there?
This is the point of the Virtual Concert Week on Squidoo.
Who would you pick and what cause would you raise money for? Make a lens and tell us about it!
Images: Squid Singer. © Kirsti A. Dyer. Some Rights Reserved.
Liza and Harry Connick Jr. sing "It Had to Be You"
by GypsyLyric
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