Just a quick summary of what I know, or think I know, about Harry Connick Jr (more accurate info is probably available on the internet):
Harry Connick, Jr is (obviously) the son of Harry Connick Sr, who was the New Orleans DA for 30 years. His uncle, Paul Connick, is the DA out here in the suburbs and has been for many years too.
Also, in 1993 Harry Connick Jr and his father founded the Krewe of Orpheus, which puts on the Orpheus parade every Lundi Gras (the day before Mardi Gras). This is one of the largest parades that we have. At that time, some of the very old traditional krewes had refused to parade, because of federal demands that anybody willing to contribute should be able to join their krewes and participate in their parades. Some thought the entire future of Mardi Gras was in doubt. The Connicks not only started the Krewe of Orpheus, but also bent over backwards to make sure that Orpheus did not exclude anybody. F and I have friends who ride in that parade every year, and so we have attended the Orpheus Ball after the parade several times. What a cool experience, and of course Harry Jr was there entertaining us all night along with other great musicians.
Anyway, back to the Connicks - - they have given a lot to this city, and I do so admire Harry Connick Jr for making his own path in life, rather than just taking all the easy opportunities that his father's connections might have provided to him had he pursued a law-related career. IMO Harry Connick Jr is "the real thing", a musician's musician and tremendously talented and experienced himself.