PeoplMC

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Harry Connick, Jr. has lots to talk about! Join the multitalented musician/songwriter/actor to ask him about his newest CD, Come by Me, and his amazing musical career, a career that's almost a microcosm of the history of American popular music and rhythms. Send in your questions now!

OnlineHost

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To send your question to the guest, click on the "Participate in Event" button, then use the "Ask a Question" option.

PeoplMC

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Welcome Harry Connick, Jr.!

HarConnick

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Thank you very much. It's good to be with you.

PeoplMC

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Here's our first question...

Question

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Harry, I love the new cd. You are a great artist. Will you ever play the University of Florida in Gainesville?

HarConnick

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I'm sure at some point. But I don't know what my schedule is.

Question

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I have loved your music since the early days of your career. "She" is my favorite album. I was wondering do you plan on returning to that style of funk on any upcoming albums?

HarConnick

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I don't have any immediate plans but I will certainly return to that style at some point. I love funk music very much.

Question

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Hi, Harry! My name is Meagan Jade, I live in Savannah, I know you're coming here on your tour, unfortunately I can't make it, I was just wondering what would you say to people trying to become famous?

HarConnick

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I would say ask someone else. The last thing you want to do is fame. That should be the last thing on your list.

Question

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Harry, I've been listening to you since i was 12 years old, and you have truly been a huge part of my life. My question is, what kind of music do you like doing best- love songs or big band music?

HarConnick

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I love doing both. I like love songs because you can sing at a slow tempo and really communicate with the audience, but I also love the power and the complexity of the big band.

Question

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what is your favorite song to sing live?

HarConnick

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It changes every night for me. I'll sing one song for a few weeks and it'll be my favorite and then I'll get tired of it and pick a new one.

PeoplMC

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Next audience question...

Question

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In your new movie Wayward Son; what kind of charecter do you play?

HarConnick

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I play a convict in the 1930's who has a very difficult time putting his life back together.

Question

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do you plan on touring again anytime soon, in more major cities?

HarConnick

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Our tour in the United States will be going on for a considerable amount of time. We will play as many major cities as we can over the next years.

Question

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Harry, where do you get the inspiration to write your beautiful love songs?

HarConnick

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I think inspiration comes from inside. I think the exciting part of writing love songs or any songs is making it up and being intuitive and creative inside your own head.

Question

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Hello! I love your music, and especially how well your voice and the voice of the piano interact. I am a piano student, and I would like to know if you have ever taken piano lessons, because your incredible skill is apparrent. Thanks!

HarConnick

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I started taking piano lessons when I was 5 years old and I studied privately and also at different Arts Schools. I went to Tanglewood and the Manhattan School of Music among other institutions for music.

Question

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You often mention New Orleans in your songs. I was just wondering how often you get a chance to go home and visit?

HarConnick

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I get home at least twice a year, if not to perform, to be with my family.

Question

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Harry, do you mind being compared to Frank Sinatra? I think you're a million times better than him! :)

HarConnick

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I think that you need to get your ears checked! But I appreciate the compliment. I don't mind the comparison because they don't happen very often and I also understand why they are made but I think when people see my show the comparisons will probably cease.

Question

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Harry, what is your favorite song to perform?

HarConnick

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I don't have a favorite. There's too many songs to choose from.

Question

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Harry, what was it like making Wayward Son? I know you chose to spend a night in prison.

HarConnick

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It was the best movie experience of my life. I got a chance to work with some incredible actors. I've performed one of the most beautiful pieces of writing I've ever read. As far as the night in prison.. I've had better nights.

Question

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if you could work with anyone actress/actor who would that be and why?

HarConnick

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I think I would like to work with Robert DeNero. Our styles are so different I think it would be interesting to be involved in something creative with him.

Question

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For your new CD, how did you get the name Come By Me

HarConnick

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Come by me is an expression that I say frequently when I want to be close to someone. It's a very natural thing for me to say so it was easy to translate in a lyric.

Question

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What is your new album like,anything like your last one or classic, jazz, modern day?

HarConnick

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It's a combination of jazz music and orchestral music but it's theme is jazz but it has a lot of variety.

PeoplMC

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We're talking to Harry Connick, Jr right now - please send in your questions!

Question

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which do you enjoy more music or movies?

HarConnick

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I'd hate to have to choose but I like music more only because I'm more familiar with it, but I truly love them both!

PeoplMC

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A question about Iron Giant...

Question

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How did you like being in a cartoon??

HarConnick

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I had a great time doing The Iron Giant. It's very tedious work but its wonderful to see the final results.

Question

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When is Wayward Son coming out?

HarConnick

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It's being released at the Toronto Film Festival in September I'm not sure of the release date in theaters.

PeoplMC

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A question from ARiley3737.... Have you ever considered composing a wedding song?

HarConnick

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I never thought about composing a song specifically for a wedding but songs that I've done have been used at weddings. If I could write the perfect love song I'm sure people would use it but I don't anticipate writing anything perfect.

Question

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Do you ever get nervous going on stage?

HarConnick

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I've never been nervous because when I started I was too young to be scared. I started performing in public at 6 years old. By now I've done it so long that I just don't get nervous.

Question

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Harry wanted to say hello from Louisiana and ask how was your latest acting experience different from the others now that you had a leading roll?

HarConnick

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I think it was mostly different due to the size of the role that I played. I worked every day. There wasn't a minute that I wasn't involved in the scene or whatever I felt my contribution had a lot of significance. That's very fulfilling as an actor.

Question

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Have you ever considered doing Broadway?

HarConnick

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I thought about doing Broadway but I think I'll wait until I'm older because I don't think I can handle doing the exact same show 8 times a week at this stage of my life. I think the Broadway institution is fantastic and I'd love to be a part of it but I'm having too much fun doing other things now.

Question

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Harry (aka OnlineHost?) - any thoughts on a Cole Porter tribute CD? You're the Top...

HarConnick

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I would love to do a Cole Porter tribute album. There's so many albums I'd love to do. It's just a question of having enough time.

Question

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Do you find your voice changing at all as you get a bit older?

HarConnick

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The level of power in my voice increases over the years. It's very exciting because I'm able to do things for the first time now that I've been hearing in my head for 10 years.

Question

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What artist do you like listening to?

HarConnick

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At this point in my life I don't listen to anything. All I do is spend time trying to improve what I'm doing myself. Over the years I've had many favorites, Duke Ellington and Louis Armstrong are among the artists at the top of my list.

Question

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What made you take the role as a voice actor in the iron Giant?

HarConnick

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It was simply because they asked.

Question

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Harry, what has been the highlight of your career so far?

HarConnick

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I've had so many incredible opportunities ranging from performing at the White House to singing at Windsor Castle, there's too many to pick just one

Question

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Where do you see yourself or what do you want to be doing in ten years?

HarConnick

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I want to be doing the same thing, but 10 years better.

Question

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Harry, what do think about the fact that you're considered a sex symbol?

HarConnick

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I wish it were like that in High School.

Question

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Hi Harry. Is there a process that you go through when looking film roles and deciding which ones to do?

HarConnick

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It's based almost completely on the writing. The script has to appeal to me from both the quality perspective and the plot perspective and then I look at the director and the other actors and then the final decision is based on my schedule, so if all those things fall into place I can do the movie.

Question

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How was it working in a movie with Sandra Bullock?

HarConnick

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Oh she's amazing. She's exactly what she thinks she would be and more. She's incredibly bright and exceptionally beautiful.

Question

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Harry, Your hometown, NOLA, is my FAVORITE city, is it as great a place to live as it seems, and do you still live there?

HarConnick

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I live in New York now but New Orleans is still home in my heart.

Question

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Hi, I just wanted to say that I'm coming to your concert in B'ham on Saturday. Can't wait to see it. My question: If you could colaborate with anyone who would it be? why?

HarConnick

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I would love to collaborate with Winston Marsalis. I've only done it once and it was too brief to really savor so one day I'd like to work extensively with him.

PeoplMC

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Harry Connick, Jr., thanks very much for being with us tonight... We know you have to go soon, but do you have any final comments?

HarConnick

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Thank to everyone for having me and signing on to chat. I am honored that so many of you are still interested in what I'm doing and I can assure you that any fan of mine will have nothing but the highest level of commitment from me to insure that the music they love is kept alive and well.

PeoplMC

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Thank you again, Harry Connick, Jr.! And thanks to our audience for your great questions!

OnlineHost

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