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Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte, Jr. is a humanitarian and political activist known best as a singer from the 1950’s who started the craze for Caribbean inflected music. “The Banana Boat Song” became his signature song. Born in New York City of a Jamaican mother and Martiniquan father in 1927, Belafonte was sent to live with his grandmother in Jamaica from 1932 to 1940. When he returned, he worked as an assistant janitor in a building. He was given two theatre tickets from one of the tenants and subsequently took acting classes in New York. He took classes with Marlon Brando and Sidney Poitier and performed at the American Negro Theatre.

His first musical release “Matilda” in 1953 became a hit and the album “Calypso” sold over 1 million copies in 1956. Calypso style music then became the rage with Belafonte being crowned the King of Calypso. He continued to perform throughout the late 50’s and 60’s but his career took a downturn when the Beatles were introduced in the States and changed the face of music.

Belafonte became a political activist early on in his career. He used some of his success to support his political and humanitarian activities. One of them was in the support of the civil rights movement. Because of his foreign roots, he was still racially discriminated in some parts of the United States, particularly the southern States where he refused to perform. Belafonte became close friends with Martin Luther King, Jr. and supported King’s family at this time since King was only receiving a pastor’s wage of $8000 per year.

In the 70’s and 80’s, Belafonte continued performing in other countries outside of the United States, where he was still popular. He received a record deal with EMI and released “Paradise in Gazankulu.” This became his last studio album and it focused on South African apartheid policy at that time which he was against with. Belafonte worked many of his humanitarian efforts into his performances. Africa was his focus during the 80’s, he was partly responsible for organizing the “We are the World” effort for Africa as well as singing for Live Aid. In 1987, he became the UNICEF goodwill ambassador. He performed in another concert for Africa which raised additional funds and then launched a campaign for the awareness of Rwanda. In 2001, he supported the campaign against AIDS in Africa and was award the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award for his efforts. Belafonte has been UNICEF ambassador for many years highlighting the children of Africa for many of his efforts.

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Beauty, Love and Justice: Living A Coltranian Life

Harry Belafonte: Humanitarian, Social Justice Leader and Artist Extraordinaire

Read "Harry Belafonte: Humanitarian, Social Justice Leader and Artist Extraordinaire" reviewed by Christine Passarella


Destiny Not many people from my old neighborhood of Old Mill Basin, Brooklyn get to go to the movies with Harry Belafonte, but I did. It was a September evening in 2015 and I went to see The Black Panthers: Vanguard of the Revolution at the Film Forum with philosopher Dr. Cornel West, and his friends Harry and Pam Belafonte. We dined with Mr. Belafonte on a number of occasions prior, went to his office, and visited his beautiful Upper ...

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Recording

Harry Belafonte: 1949

Harry Belafonte: 1949

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

In late 1948, Harry Belafonte was having trouble finding work as an actor. At the time, he was performing with New York's American Negro Theater and studying at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School in Greenwich Village. In a production of John Steinbeck's Of Mice and Men, he had to sing a song. He had no musical training nor did he have any interest in becoming a singer. But he had a good voice. After the performance, Belafonte typically ...

Award / Grant

Harry Belafonte To Receive Honorary Doctorate Of Music Degree At Berklee Tribute Concert

Harry Belafonte To Receive Honorary Doctorate Of Music Degree At Berklee Tribute Concert

Source: Berklee Media Relations

Berklee College of Music president Roger H. Brown will present an honorary doctor of music degree to iconic musician, songwriter, and activist Harry Belafonte at a Berklee tribute concert, in recognition of Belafonte's inspiring musical and humanitarian achievements. Past recipients of Berklee's honorary doctorate include Duke Ellington (the first, in 1971), Dizzy Gillespie, Steven Tyler, Aretha Franklin, Quincy Jones, Juan Luis Guerra, David Bowie, Gloria and Emilio Estefan, Bonnie Raitt, George Clinton, and Carole King. The Life and Music of ...

1

Festival

Harry Belafonte at 4th edition Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival

Harry Belafonte at 4th edition Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival

Source: Michael Ricci

Fundashon Bon Intenshon is very honored and proud to announce the presence of singer/actor Harry Belafonte at the fourth edition of Curaçao North Sea Jazz Festival that will be held on August 30 and 31, 2013. Belafonte will deliver a speech entitled: “The Confirmation of Commitment for Peace, Sustainability and Brotherhood for All through Music”. American singer/songwriter, actor and social activist Harold George “Harry” Belafonte (1927), also known as the “King of Calypso” for popularising the Caribbean music style with ...

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Music Industry

Singer and Activist Harry Belafonte at JFK Library on November 21

Singer and Activist Harry Belafonte at JFK Library on November 21

Source: MassJazz: Jazz in Massachusetts

Harry Belafonte is appearing at the John F. Kennedy Library in Boston on Monday, November 21, 2011 to discuss his new book, My Song: A Memoir. Local television reporter and host Liz Walker is moderator. The event runs from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. and is free to the public, but reservations are required. You can also view a live Webcast of the conversation here. Belafonte is a veteran singer, composer, actor and activist. His book, My Song, published by Knoph, ...

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Performance / Tour

Harry Belafonte Hosts Sunday May 14 Symphony Space Jazz Greats Of The Upper West Side Benefit

Harry Belafonte Hosts Sunday May 14 Symphony Space Jazz Greats Of The Upper West Side Benefit

Source: All About Jazz

HARRY BELAFONTE HOSTS SUNDAY MAY 14 SYMPHONY SPACE JAZZ GREATS OF THE UPPER WEST SIDE BENEFIT CLOSING EVENT OF UPPER WEST FEST On Sunday, May 14 at 7 PM, Harry Belafonte will host Jazz Greats of the Upper West Side, a special benefit concert for Symphony Space, located on Broadway and 95th Street. Honoring legendary percussionist and composer Max Roach, it will celebrate the talent of the many noted jazz musicians who live on the Upper West Side; ...

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Interview

Danny Glover to Interview Harry Belafonte April 9th at D.C. Youth Leadership Organization Fundraiser

Danny Glover to Interview Harry Belafonte April 9th at D.C. Youth Leadership Organization Fundraiser

Source: All About Jazz

For Immediate Release – 03.21.05

MEDIA ADVISORY RELEASE

Danny Glover to Interview Harry Belafonte at D.C. Youth Leadership Organization Fundraiser

Danny Glover will interview the legendary Harry Belafonte live onstage about his celebrated international music career, human rights activism, and humanitarian work. Paul Robeson, Jr. will present Belafonte with the Hung Tao Choy Mei Leadership Institute’s “Paul Robeson, Here I Stand” award for activism in the arts. This event is at the Lincoln Theatre ...

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TV / Film

Harry Belafonte's Long Road To Freedom Show on BET Jazz

Harry Belafonte's Long Road To Freedom Show on BET Jazz

Source: All About Jazz

Discover the treasure of Harry Belafonte's Grammy nominated CD set, Anthology Of Black Music , The Long Road To Freedom. The show is an exclusive look into Belafonte's personal journey in creating this CD masterpiece. The Long Road to Freedom: An Anthology of Black Music is Harry Belafonte's 10-year labor of love and was released this past September by Buddha Records.

Recorded between 1961 and 1971 this extraordinary set of music portrays the music of Black Americans from the early ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Very Best Of

RST Records
2001

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The Best Of Harry...

Challenge Records
2001

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Gold

RST Records
1995

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My Greatest Songs

RST Records
1992

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Harry Belafonte...

RST Records
1989

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Island In The Sun '89...

Challenge Records
1989

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Videos

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