Role

:

Performer

Country

:

Ireland

Birth

:

October 1, 1930 in Limerick, Ireland

Death

:

October 25, 2002 in London, England

Genre

:

Opera

 

 

Orchestral

 

Richard Harris was a renowned classical music artist who was born on October 1, 1930, in Limerick, Ireland. He was the youngest of nine children and grew up in a working-class family. Harris showed an early interest in music and began singing in his local church choir at a young age. He attended Crescent College, a Jesuit school in Limerick, where he excelled in sports and drama. After finishing school, Harris moved to London to pursue a career in acting. He studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and began appearing in stage productions. In 1959, he made his film debut in the movie "Alive and Kicking." He went on to appear in several other films, including "This Sporting Life," for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. Despite his success as an actor, Harris never lost his love for music. He continued to sing and perform throughout his career, and in 1968, he released his first album, "A Tramp Shining." The album was a critical and commercial success, and it established Harris as a serious musician. Over the next few years, Harris released several more albums, including "The Yard Went On Forever," "The Richard Harris Love Album," and "My Boy." He also continued to act, appearing in films such as "Camelot" and "A Man Called Horse." In 1971, Harris released what would become his most famous album, "MacArthur Park." The album featured the title track, a seven-minute epic that became a hit single and a staple of classic rock radio. The song was written by Jimmy Webb, who had also written several other songs for Harris, including "By the Time I Get to Phoenix" and "Wichita Lineman." "MacArthur Park" was a critical and commercial success, and it earned Harris a Grammy nomination for Best Male Pop Vocal Performance. The album also featured several other songs written by Webb, as well as covers of songs by Bob Dylan and the Beatles. Harris continued to release albums throughout the 1970s and 1980s, including "Slides," "The Prophet," and "The Richard Harris Collection." He also continued to act, appearing in films such as "The Wild Geese" and "Unforgiven." In 1990, Harris was diagnosed with Hodgkin's disease, a form of cancer. He underwent treatment and was able to beat the disease, but it had a profound impact on his life and career. He became more introspective and focused on his music, releasing several albums that dealt with themes of mortality and spirituality. In 2002, Harris released what would be his final album, "The Timeless Now." The album featured original songs as well as covers of songs by Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits. It was a fitting end to a career that had spanned more than four decades and had touched the lives of millions of people around the world. Richard Harris passed away on October 25, 2002, at the age of 72. He left behind a legacy as both an actor and a musician, and his influence can still be felt in the world of music today. His unique voice and his ability to convey emotion through his music will always be remembered and cherished by his fans.

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