Keith Harkin Explained

Keith Harkin
Birth Name:	Keith Harkin
Birth Date:	10 June 1986
Birth Place:	Derry, Northern Ireland
Years Active:	2006–present
Label:	Blue Elan
Associated Acts:	Celtic Thunder
Spouse:	Kelsey Harkin (m. 2016)

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]

Musical career

Harkin plays guitar, mandolin, banjo, ukulele 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.

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.^[7] 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.^[8] 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.^[9] Mercy Street reached number one on the World Music Billboard charts.^[10]

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.^[11]

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

Discography

Keith Harkin Debut Album (Sept 2012)

• "End of the Innocence"
• "Daisy Fields"
• "Have I Told You Lately"
• "Everybody's Talkin'"
• "Nothing But You and I"
• "Here Comes The Sun"
• "Tears of Hercules"
• "Orange Moon"
• "Take It Away"
• "Don't Forget About Me"
• "Rosa"
• "Heart of Saturday Night"

Mercy Street (March 2016)

• "Mercy"
• "I Remember It All"
• "Take Me Down"
• "September Sessions"
• "Wait on Me"
• "First Time"
• "Lauren & I"
• "My Love Goes On"
• "Keep on Rolling"
• "Along The Road"
• "Risk The Fall"
• "Old Lang Syne"

Nollaig (2016)

• "Driving Home For Christmas"
• "Merry Christmas You've Been on My Mind"
• "The River"
• "Arthur McBride"
• "In The Bleak Mid Winter"
• "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"
• "2000 Miles"
• "God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen"
• "No Love Dyring"
• "Silent Night"
• "Auld Lang Syne"

In The Round (2017)

• "Lauren & I"
• "I Remember it all"
• "Along The Road"
• "Take Me Down"
• "First Time"
• "Whiskey in the Jar"
• "Risk The Fall"
• "Mercy"
• "Ring Tailed Rat"
• "Carefree Heart"
• "My Love Goes On"
• "September Sessions"
• "Keep on Rolling"
• "Wait ON Me"

Ten Years Later" (2019)

• "When We Go Out"
• "How I Wish"
• "Daisy Fields"
• "All Day Long"
• "Going to San Diego"
• "Small Town Girl"
• "Banjo Song"
• "Looking Glass"
• "Going Home"
• "She's Almost"
• "Calling Baton Rouge"

It's Christmas Time (2019)

• "Merry of May"
• "First of May"
• "My Old Friend"
• "I Say Mommy Kissing Santa Claus"
• "Silent Night"
• "Its Christmas Time"
• "Jingle Bells"

Santa Please Come Home (2021)

• "The River"
• "Can't Help Falling in Love with You"
• "Santa Please Come Home"
• "Oh Holy Night"
• "Halleluja"
• "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas"

Solo singles

• "Daisy Fields" (Keith Harkin, 2012)
• "September Sessions" (Mercy Street, 2015)
• "Mercy" (Mercy Street, 2015)
• "Don't Forget About Me" (Keith Harkin, 2012)
• "Nothing But You & I" (Keith Harkin, 2012)

Notes and References

1. Web site: Keith Harkin – Official Website – Bio . 2016-10-22 . keithharkin.com.
2. Web site: Celtic Thunder . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101125032445/http://www.njn.net/television/highlights/08may/celticmancelticthunder.html . 25 November 2010 . New Jersey Public Television . 28 September 2013 .
3. Web site: Celtic Thunder Artist Page – Keith Harkin . 9 December 2011 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20111209082455/http://cms.celticthunder.ie/artists/keith_harkin . 9 December 2011 .
4. Web site: Graff . Gary . 2011-12-09 . ‘Glee’ Role Makes Celtic Thunder Singer’s ‘Dream Come True’ . 2024-02-28 . Billboard . en-US.
5. Web site: Officer . Press . 2016-12-07 . Keith Harkin hits #1 on the Billboard World Music Chart with new Christmas Album 'Nollaig' . 2024-02-28 . IMRO . en-GB.
6. News: Keith Harkin – Celtic Thunder. Celtic Thunder. en-US. 2016-11-25.
7. Web site: Keith Harkin – Official Website – Bio. keithharkin.com. 2016-11-25.
8. News: Keith Harkin – Celtic Thunder. Celtic Thunder. en-US. 2016-11-25.
9. Web site: KEITH HARKIN – 'ON MERCY STREET' . 2016-11-25 . theceltictimes.com.
10. Web site: Keith Harkin – Official Website – Bio. keithharkin.com. 2016-11-25.
11. News: Keith Harkin's "Nollaig" Officially Released Worldwide. Blue Elan Records. 2016-11-25.