Harry Connick Jr.

Harry Connick Jr. grew up in New Orleans, where his father's love for jazz shaped his early musical tastes. He started playing piano as a child and eventually built a career that leaned heavily on that city's jazz and big band traditions. His version of 'Just The Way You Are' became one of his better-known recordings, showing his knack for interpreting standards with a smooth vocal style.

He has put out more than thirty albums since the late 1980s, including titles like '20,' 'We Are in Love,' and 'Blue Light, Red Light.' These records often mix jazz, pop, and show tunes, reflecting his work as a pianist and singer. Connick has performed regularly with a band that includes musicians like drummer Shannon Powell and guitarist David Hughes.

In 1989, he faced criticism for remarks about the AIDS crisis, which he later apologized for. Since then, he has spoken in support of LGBTQ+ rights. His music continues to draw from the New Orleans sound he heard growing up, without straying too far from the piano-and-voice approach that defined his early work.