Biography

Michael Londra has been confirmed as part of Irish celebrations to mark the 50th anniversary of President Kennedy's visit to Ireland.

Jean Kennedy Smith has also invited Michael to sing at the graveside of JFK in Arlington, VA on June 18 in a ceremony to light a torch from the eternal flame there to be taken to Ireland for The Homecoming event on June 22.

Londra has written a song with Grammy winner Marcus Hummon especially for the event titled "Song for John" stating the former US president represented the 'American Dream' for him.

"Michael Londra is one of Ireland's top tenors, having made unique contributions of major significance to Celtic music... His enormous contribution to Irish Arts is acknowledged as is his vital role in spreading Irish culture internationally.
He is also to be congratulated for the significant role he plays as international ambassador for the Irish charity, Concern Worldwide, using his position of influence to which his dedication has brought him to seek to assist those persons in society, the world over, who exists on the margins and in the most vulnerable positions." --Michael D. Higgins, President of Ireland

CapitalCeltic.com named Michael Londra as "one of the greatest Irish singers of our time”. His recording of "Danny Boy" is now regarded as "one of the best recordings in history," with over 6 million views on YouTube. Since his breakthrough role as lead singer of Riverdance on Broadway, Londra has become one of the top international soloists.

"I just listened to your version of DANNY BOY and sat here crying my eyes out. Just beautiful. Your voice is a diamond." --Julie Gold, songwriter; From a Distance by Bette Midler


“one of the best recordings of Danny Boy of all time" --Irish Emigrant

"A soaring voice that is both deeply emotional and tremendously expressive, transporting you into an amazingly beautiful world" --Irish Edition

"A pure tenor climbing up into ranges pretenders can only dream" --Irish Herald


MORE ON MICHAEL LONDRA…

Chicago based Celtic singer, Michael Londra is from the opera capital of Ireland, a small town on the South East coast called Wexford. He decided in the early 90s at age 31, to follow his heart and started singing professionally after 10 years working as a behavior therapist for people with learning difficulties.
His leap of faith was rewarded when he soon became a leading man in musical theater in Dublin playing Joseph in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat and many other lead roles in Some Like It Hot, Hot Mikado, and Brigadoon.
US director and choreographer, Larry Fuller asked Michael to play Bobby Kennedy in the world premiere of "JFK" where he was noticed by the producers of Riverdance. He went on and sang lead in first Riverdance tour of North America in 1998 as well as Riverdance on Broadway 2000 and 2001.

Michael's first album "Celt" was produced by acclaimed producer Steve Skinner who co-produced the Grammy nominated soundtrack of RENT. He has worked as an arranger/co-producer for Bette Midler and Celine Dion and has collaborated many times with Arif Mardin, producer of Norah Jones' acclaimed CD. The album was released in 15 countries worldwide selling particularly well in Korea where it reached No 1 in the World Music Charts.

Londra has been featured on the Universal Records Arias Ancora project with Luciano Pavarotte, Andrea Bocelli and Sarah Brightman. He created Radiocelt.com in Chicago in 2003 which is part of the Accuradio network (one of the top ten internet radio stations in the world). In addition, Michael has been very active in yet another role, this time as an ambassador for "Concern Worldwide" www.concernusa.org. Through several cd releases which raised considerable awareness for the charity, and through his high profile visits to Haiti, Michael has helped bring the issue of poverty and hunger to the attention of the public. He is an advocate in North America for the Visit Wexford campaign.

Michael's work with partner Jean Clancy on the Celtic Woman project created by Sharon Browne was a turning point in Michael"s career off stage. He has been involved in many productions around the world as an artistic director and producer. CELT Productions collaborated with Celtic Entertainments to bring Dance of Desire to China and with Harmony artists to bring Caution:Men at Work and The Spirit of Christmas show touring China also.

In 2004 he was chosen by Oscar nominee John Debney to sing the role of Jesus in "The Passion of the Christ Symphony" based on his score of the Mel Gibson movie.
Michael is nominated for two Irish Music Awards for Best Solo Performance and Best Irish Tenor in which he won Best Irish Tenor at the 2011 Irish Music Awards held on January 26th in Weston, Missouri, and recently Won Best Irish Tenor in 2012's Irish Music Awards.
His PBS special Beyond Celtic which he co-produced with Mindfox Productions, was taped in March 2011 airing nationally over 300 times. In April 2012 he signed a publishing deal with Shapiro Bernstein.



"Michael Londra makes his triumphant return to San Francisco in this spirited revue" --San Francisco Examiner

"Entertaining and heartwarming and enchanting." --Napa Valley Register

"Ethereally clarion vocals that are almost angelic" --Theatermania.com

"A voice as pure as a crystalline stream" --Houston Chronicle