Keith Harkin

Last updated

Keith Harkin
Birth nameKeith Harkin
Born (1986-06-10) 10 June 1986 (age 37)
Derry, Northern Ireland
Occupations
  • Singer
  • Songwriter
  • Musician
Instrument(s)
  • Vocals
  • Guitar
  • Mandolin
  • Piano
  • Banjo
  • Ukulele
Years active2006–present
LabelsBlue Elan
Spouse(s)Kelsey Harkin (m. 2016)
Website keithharkin.com

Keith Harkin is a singer-songwriter and former member of Irish group Celtic Thunder. Born on 10 June 1986 in Derry, Northern Ireland, Harkin now resides in Los Angeles, California with his wife and son. [1]

Contents

Musical career

Harkin plays guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukele and piano, and sings and writes songs.

In 2005, he travelled to London to record with a producer and played in various venues and festivals throughout England, including the Tavistock Festival on Portobello Road. In 2006, he played the lead role in Dha Theanga, an Irish program on BBC tv. He also rewrote and arranged the music for the show. [2] Harkin was invited to support John Martyn and David Kitt on their Irish tours and BBC Radio Ulster called him the "Irish Jack Johnson."

Harkin was part of the band Celtic Thunder, which performed in the United States, Canada, and Australia. [3] Celtic Thunder had two #1 selling DVDs and three #1 selling albums on the World Billboard charts. [4] [5] Harkin began working with the band in 2007 [6] and wrote "Lauren and I" for the band. [7] [8]

After nearly ten years with the group, he decided to take time off and tour independently. Harkin has now recorded more original songs including: "How I Wish," "Daisy Fields," "Vanity," "September Sessions," and "All Day Long".

Harkin's self-titled solo album was released in Canada on 4 September 2012 and in the United States on 18 September 2012. The album was released with Verve Records, to which he was signed by Grammy Award-winning producer David Foster. [9] It reached the No. 8 spot in Amazon's Pop Music Charts and the #1 spot in Amazon's International charts two months before its release date. The album features a duet with two-time Grammy Award winner Colbie Caillat, a cover of Van Morrison's "Have I Told You Lately That I Love You".

Harkin's second solo album, Mercy Street, was released in October 2015. [10] The songs on the album were written by Harkin and the album was self-funded. Harkin recorded all the songs on the album live in one take. [11] Mercy Street reached number one on the World Music Billboard charts. [12]

Harkin released a solo Christmas album titled Nollaig in 2016 which also reached number one on World Music Billboard charts. It was produced by Brian Byrne and recorded at his home studio. The album contains a mix of original and traditional songs, and features the Bulgarian Symphony Orchestra on several tracks. [13]

Harkin's eighth studio album, Man of Many Hearts, was released in the fall of 2022.

Discography

Keith Harkin Debut Album (Sept 2012)

Mercy Street (March 2016)

Nollaig (2016)

In The Round (2017)

Ten Years Later" (2019)

It's Christmas Time (2019)

Santa Please Come Home (2021)

Solo singles

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References

  1. "Keith Harkin – Official Website – Bio". keithharkin.com. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  2. "Celtic Thunder". New Jersey Public Television. Archived from the original on 25 November 2010. Retrieved 28 September 2013.
  3. "Celtic Thunder Artist Page – Keith Harkin". Archived from the original on 9 December 2011. Retrieved 9 December 2011.
  4. Graff, Gary (9 December 2011). "'Glee' Role Makes Celtic Thunder Singer's 'Dream Come True'". Billboard. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  5. Officer, Press (7 December 2016). "Keith Harkin hits #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart with new Christmas Album 'Nollaig'". IMRO. Retrieved 28 February 2024.
  6. "Keith Harkin – Celtic Thunder". Celtic Thunder. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  7. "Lauren and I" lyrics and credits, archived from the original on 2 October 2011, retrieved 9 December 2011
  8. "Lauren and I" on YouTube , retrieved 9 December 2011
  9. "Keith Harkin – Official Website – Bio". keithharkin.com. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  10. "Keith Harkin – Celtic Thunder". Celtic Thunder. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  11. "KEITH HARKIN – 'ON MERCY STREET'". theceltictimes.com. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  12. "Keith Harkin – Official Website – Bio". keithharkin.com. Retrieved 25 November 2016.
  13. "Keith Harkin's "Nollaig" Officially Released Worldwide". Blue Elan Records. Retrieved 25 November 2016.