Harry Connick Jr. schedules Sarasota concert

He's released dozens of albums, he's won Grammy Awards and Emmy Awards and he's been nominated for a Tony. But a lot of Bradenton area people got to know Harry Connick Jr. through his work on "American Idol."

Now he's coming to the area, to show of the musical skills that made him a star in the first place.

Connick will bring his polished, New Orleans-tinged song stylings to the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center Feb. 10.

Tickets go on sale this Friday (Nov. 21).

Connick was one of three judges who promoted Bradenton's Sam Woolf to the top five on the most recent season of "American Idol."

He's been making hit albums since he was a teenager, and he's earned acclaim and massive record sales through his distinctive singing, his meticulous piano technique and his talent as a composer. (He scored the film "When Harry Met Sally" and the wrote the music for Broadway's 'Thou Shalt Not.") He's also gained fame as an actor, on TV's "Will and Grace" and the film "Independence Day."

Details: 8 p.m. Feb. 10, Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. Tickets: $35-$139. Information: 941-953-3368, vanwezel.org.

-- Marty Clear

This story was originally published November 18, 2014 at 3:09 PM with the headline "Harry Connick Jr. schedules Sarasota concert ."