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Who Was Harry Belafonte?
Harry Belafonte, an iconic figure in both the music and activism spheres, overcame a challenging childhood marked by poverty and family turbulence. His career soared following his role in the musical Carmen Jones, and soon after, he became a household name with hit songs like “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” and “Jump in the Line.” Beyond his musical achievements, Belafonte was deeply committed to social and political causes, using his platform to advocate for justice and equality. His contributions earned him numerous prestigious accolades, including the National Medal of Arts, one Tony Award, one Emmy Award, and two Grammy Awards. Belafonte passed away on April 25, 2023, at the age of 96.
Early Life
Harry Belafonte was born Harold George Belafonte Jr. on March 1, 1927, in New York City to Caribbean immigrants. His mother worked as a dressmaker and house cleaner, while his father served as a cook on merchant ships, though he left the family when Belafonte was young. For much of his early childhood, Belafonte lived in Jamaica, his mother’s homeland, where he witnessed the harsh realities of racial oppression under British colonial rule. This experience had a profound impact on his later activism.
At the age of 13, Belafonte returned to Harlem, New York, to live with his mother. The family struggled with poverty, and as his mother worked long hours, Belafonte often found himself left to care for himself. Reflecting on his childhood, Belafonte later shared with People magazine, “The most difficult time in my life was when I was a kid. My mother gave me affection, but because I was left on my own, also a lot of anguish.”
Early Career
Belafonte’s early life saw him face significant challenges, including dropping out of high school. In 1944, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War II. After his discharge, he returned to New York City, where he worked as a janitor’s assistant while pursuing his interest in theater. His passion for acting was ignited after attending a performance at the American Negro Theater (AMT), where he was inspired to volunteer as a stagehand and later pursue acting.
Belafonte studied drama at the Dramatic Workshop, which was led by the renowned director Erwin Piscator. His classmates included future stars such as Marlon Brando, Walter Matthau, and Bea Arthur. While performing in AMT productions, Belafonte also caught the attention of music agent Monte Kay, who offered him a chance to perform at the Royal Roost, a jazz club in New York. Backed by legendary musicians like Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, Belafonte quickly became a popular fixture at the club. In 1949, he secured his first recording contract, marking the beginning of his music career.
By the early 1950s, Belafonte had shifted away from popular music, embracing folk music and traditional songs from around the world. He became a regular performer in New York’s vibrant club scene, including the Village Vanguard, where his unique blend of folk and international influences captivated audiences.
Movies
During the early stages of his career, Harry Belafonte achieved significant success as both an actor and performer. He made his Broadway debut in 1953 and won a Tony Award the following year for his role in John Murray Anderson’s Almanac, where he performed several of his own songs. Belafonte also appeared in 3 for Tonight, a highly regarded musical revue, in 1955.
Simultaneously, Belafonte launched his film career, making his acting debut in the 1953 movie Bright Road, where he starred alongside Dorothy Dandridge as a school principal. He and Dandridge reunited the following year for Otto Preminger’s Carmen Jones, a film adaptation of the Broadway musical (itself based on Georges Bizet’s opera Carmen). Belafonte portrayed Joe, opposite Dandridge, who earned an Oscar nomination for her performance.
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Belafonte collaborated with longtime friend Sidney Poitier on several films, including Buck and the Preacher (1972) and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). He also made numerous television appearances, including a memorable guest spot on The Muppet Show, where he performed some of his iconic songs. Belafonte later worked with Marlo Thomas on the 1974 children’s special Free to Be… You and Me.
In the 1990s, Belafonte returned to the big screen, playing a version of himself in The Player (1992). While his next film, White Man’s Burden (1995), co-starring John Travolta, was both a commercial and critical failure, he received praise for his role in Robert Altman’s Kansas City (1996), in which he portrayed a heartless gangster. Belafonte’s later film credits included Swing Vote (1999) and Bobby (2006), a film about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy.
Music
The success of Carmen Jones in 1954 propelled Belafonte to stardom, and his music career quickly followed. In 1956, he released Calypso through RCA Victor Records, which introduced his unique interpretation of traditional Caribbean folk music to a wide audience. The album’s breakout hit, “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O),” became a global sensation. Belafonte described the song as symbolic of his heritage, explaining it represented the lives of his family and the Jamaican workers toiling in the banana fields.
Calypso not only cemented Belafonte’s place in music history but also made him the first album artist to sell over a million copies, earning him the title of “King of Calypso.” He collaborated with other folk artists, such as Bob Dylan and Odetta, and recorded “There’s a Hole in My Bucket” with Odetta. In 1961, Belafonte enjoyed another major hit with “Jump in the Line.”
Belafonte’s groundbreaking achievements in television included becoming the first Black person to win an Emmy Award for his 1959 special Revlon Revue: Tonight with Belafonte, where he also served as a producer. In 1970, he collaborated with Lena Horne for a one-hour TV special that showcased their musical talents. Although his output slowed by the mid-1970s, Belafonte remained a prominent figure in the entertainment industry, continually influencing both music and culture.
Social and Political Activism
Belafonte was deeply committed to social and political causes, drawing inspiration from figures like Paul Robeson and W.E.B. Du Bois. His activism intensified after meeting Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in the 1950s, and the two became close friends. Belafonte provided financial support to the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and took an active role in rallies and protests. He was instrumental in organizing the 1963 March on Washington, where Dr. King delivered his historic “I Have a Dream” speech, and he remained close to King until the civil rights leader’s tragic assassination in 1968.
Belafonte was also a key supporter of African artists. In 1958, he met exiled South African singer Miriam Makeba, and together they won a Grammy for their 1965 album An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba. Their collaboration helped introduce Makeba to international audiences and raised awareness about apartheid in South Africa.
In the 1980s, Belafonte initiated a groundbreaking project to provide famine relief in Ethiopia. His idea to record a song with fellow celebrities culminated in the release of “We Are the World” in 1985, which raised millions of dollars and became a global hit. The song featured legendary artists such as Ray Charles, Diana Ross, and Bruce Springsteen, and its success marked a new chapter in celebrity-driven charitable efforts.
Throughout his life, Belafonte continued to speak out on various causes, including his role as a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, his opposition to apartheid in South Africa, and his vocal criticism of U.S. military actions in Iraq. In 2006, Belafonte generated controversy when he called President George W. Bush “the greatest terrorist in the world” in reference to the Iraq war, and he faced additional backlash for his comments about General Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, whom he referred to as “house slaves.” Despite the controversy, Belafonte remained steadfast in his beliefs, maintaining that Powell and Rice were complicit in perpetuating systemic oppression.
Awards
Harry Belafonte’s illustrious career spanned over five decades, earning him some of the highest honors in the entertainment industry. Among his many accolades, he received the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors in 1989, the National Medal of Arts in 1994, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. In 2014, Belafonte was further recognized with the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Governors Awards.
Throughout his career, Belafonte garnered numerous nominations, including seven Emmy Award nominations, 10 Grammy Award nominations, and one Tony Award nomination, securing four wins:
- Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program or Series (1960)
- Grammy Award for Best Folk Performance (1960)
- Grammy Award for Best Folk Recording (1965)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (1954)
Personal Life and Death
Belafonte’s personal life was marked by three marriages and four children. His first marriage was to Marguerite Byrd, which lasted from 1948 until 1957 and produced two children, Adrienne and Shari.
In 1957, Belafonte married dancer Julie Robinson, and the couple had two children, Gina and David, before their divorce in 2004.
In 2008, he wed photographer Pamela Frank, with whom he lived in New York City. Frank had two children from a previous relationship.
On April 25, 2023, Harry Belafonte passed away at the age of 96 at his home in Manhattan. His spokesperson confirmed that the cause of death was congestive heart failure.