Belafonte received the Four Freedoms Award – Freedom Medal, highlighting his commitment to social justice and human rights.
Harry Belafonte was an influential American singer, actor, and civil rights activist who popularized calypso music in the 1950s and 1960s.
Belafonte spent part of his childhood in Jamaica, where he attended Wolmer's Schools before returning to New York City.
Biography
Early Life
Harry Belafonte, born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. on March 1, 1927, in Harlem, New York City, was the son of Jamaican immigrants. His father, Harold George Bellanfanti Sr., worked as a chef, while his mother, Melvine Love, was a housekeeper. Belafonte spent part of his childhood in Jamaica, where he attended Wolmer's Schools before returning to New York. He faced academic challenges due to undiagnosed dyslexia and blindness in one eye, which led him to drop out of high school and join the U.S. Navy during World War II. After the war, he discovered his passion for performing arts, particularly after attending the American Negro Theater.
Musical Career
Belafonte began his music career in the late 1940s as a club singer in New York, eventually signing with RCA Victor in 1953. His breakthrough came with the release of his album "Calypso" in 1956, which became the first LP to sell over a million copies in a year. Known for his rich baritone voice, he popularized calypso music and became a prominent figure in the music industry, releasing numerous albums including "Harry Belafonte," "Golden Hits," and "An Evening With Belafonte." His signature song, "Matilda," became a staple in his live performances.
Political Activism
Beyond music, Belafonte was a dedicated civil rights activist, closely associated with Martin Luther King Jr. He used his platform to advocate for social justice and refused to perform in the segregated South from 1954 to 1961. His activism extended globally, inspired by figures like Paul Robeson. Belafonte's contributions to civil rights were recognized in various forms, including a documentary titled "Sing Your Song" and numerous awards throughout his life, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and the National Medal of Arts. He passed away on April 25, 2023, leaving behind a legacy as a pioneering artist and humanitarian.
Collected from open sources (4) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Discography
Sings of Love1968
- 1.By the Time I Get to Phoenix2:41
- 2.Annie – Love3:28
- 3.Sleep Late, My Lady Friend2:15
- 4.Once in a Lifetime2:58
- 5.You Time2:56
- 6.In the Beginning2:44
- 7.Manha De Carnival2:18
- 8.When Spring Comes Around3:12
- 9.In the Name of Love2:34
- 10.The First Day of Forever2:24
- 11.Each Day1:53
Belafonte on Campus1967
- 1.Roll On, Buddy2:46
- 2.The Hands I Love4:57
- 3.The Last Thing on My Mind3:47
- 4.Delia3:42
- 5.The Far Side of the Hill3:30
- 6.Waly, Waly4:43
- 7.Sail Away Ladies3:21
- 8.The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face3:37
- 9.Hold on to Me Babe3:40
- 10.Those Three Are on My Mind3:43
- 11.The Dog Song (Your Dog)4:25
In My Quiet Room1966
- 1.Quiet Room4:35
- 2.Portrait of a Sunday Afternoon3:23
- 3.Raindrops2:55
- 4.Our Time for Loving5:19
- 5.The Honey Wind Blows3:43
- 6.The Girls in Their Summer Dresses3:49
- 7.Long About Now4:31
- 8.I'm Just a Country Boy3:25
- 9.Summertime Love3:51
- 10.Try to Remember4:04
Calypso in Brass1966
- 1.Jump in the Line
- 2.Jump and Bray (medley)
- 3.Cocoanut Woman
- 4.Tongue Tie Baby
- 5.Zombie Jamboree
- 6.Sweetheart From Venezuela
- 7.Man Smart, Woman Smarter
- 8.Reincarnation
- 9.Judy Drownded
- 10.The Naughty Little Flea
- 11.Mama Look a Boo-Boo
An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba1965
- 1.Train Song
- 2.In the Land of the Zulus
- 3.Hush, Hush
- 4.To Those We Love
- 5.Give Us Our Land
- 6.Beware Verwoerd
- 7.Gone Are My Children
- 8.Hurry, Mama, Hurry
- 9.My Angel
- 10.Cannon
- 11.Lullaby
- 12.Show Me the Way, My Brother
An Evening With Belafonte / Mouskouri1965
- 1.My Moon (Fengeri moo)2:57
- 2.Dream (Oneero)2:33
- 3.If You Are Thirsty (Kean tha depsasees)3:22
- 4.The Train (To traino)3:10
- 5.In the Small Boat (Mes tin varka)3:10
- 6.The Town Crier (Telelees)2:08
- 7.Walking on the Moon (Pame mia volta)3:30
- 8.The Baby Snake (Feedakee)3:12
- 9.The Wide Sea (Thalassa platia)2:38
- 10.Irene (Erene)2:33
Ballads, Blues and Boasters1964
- 1.Tone the Bell Easy3:21
- 2.Blue Willow Moan3:35
- 3.Ananias2:51
- 4.Boy3:49
- 5.My Love Is a Dewdrop3:25
- 6.Back of the Bus3:26
- 7.Pastures of Plenty3:39
- 8.John the Rovelator3:40
- 9.Four Strong Winds2:54
- 10.Black Betty4:14
- 11.Big Boat Up the River4:06
Streets I Have Walked1963
- 1.Sit Down2:29
- 2.Erev Shel Shoshanim3:11
- 3.Waltzing Matilda3:14
- 4.My Old Paint3:27
- 5.Mangwene Mpulele3:30
- 6.This Land Is Your Land3:02
- 7.Tunga3:13
- 8.Sakura3:57
- 9.Amen3:05
- 10.The Borning Day3:31
- 11.This Wicked Race3:05
- 12.Come Away Melinda2:28
The Midnight Special1962
- 1.Midnight Special3:45
- 2.Crawdad Song3:37
- 3.Memphis Tennessee4:59
- 4.Gotta Travel On4:20
- 5.Did You Hear About Jerry?2:57
- 6.On Top of Old Smokey4:59
- 7.Muleskinner3:31
- 8.Makes a Long Time Man Feel Bad5:47
- 9.Michael Row the Boat Ashore3:56
To Wish You a Merry Christmas1962
- 1.Mary's Boy Child4:25
- 2.Silent Night3:38
- 3.Christmas Is Coming1:41
- 4.Mary, Mary3:24
- 5.Jehova the Lord Will Provide3:00
- 6.Medley: We Wish You a Merry Christmas / God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen / O Come All Ye Faithful / Joy to the World4:32
- 7.I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day3:06
- 8.A Star in the East4:18
- 9.The Gifts They Gave4:01
- 10.The Son of Mary (Greensleeves)3:24
- 11.The Twelve Days of Christmas3:52
- 12.Where the Little Jesus Sleeps2:08
- 13.Medley: The Joys of Christmas / O Little Town of Bethlehem / Deck the Halls / The First Noel5:27
The Many Moods of Belafonte1962
- 1.Tongue Tie Baby3:51
- 2.Who's Gonna Be Your Man3:42
- 3.'Long About Now3:55
- 4.Bamotsweri2:33
- 5.I'm on My Way to Saturday2:45
- 6.Betty an' Dupree5:19
- 7.Summertime Love3:58
- 8.Lyla, Lyla3:26
- 9.Zombie Jamboree3:35
- 10.Try to Remember3:24
- 11.Dark as a Dungeon4:15
Jump Up Calypso1961
- 1.Sweetheart From Venezuela3:28
- 2.Go Down Emanuel Road3:07
- 3.The Baby Boy3:22
- 4.Gloria3:08
- 5.Land of the Sea and Sun2:55
- 6.Goin' Down Jordan3:34
- 7.Jump in the Line3:39
- 8.Kingston Market3:11
- 9.Monkey3:58
- 10.These Are the Times3:14
- 11.Bally Mena3:25
- 12.Angelina3:53
My Lord What a Mornin’1960
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Swing Dat Hammer1960
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Love Is a Gentle Thing1959
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Porgy and Bess1959
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Belafonte Sings the Blues1958
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An Evening With Belafonte1957
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Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean1957
Tracklist not collected yet.
Calypso1956
Tracklist not collected yet.
Belafonte1956
Tracklist not collected yet.
“Mark Twain” and Other Folk Favorites1954
Tracklist not collected yet.
Golden Hits2006
Tracklist not collected yet.
Harry Belafonte1976
Tracklist not collected yet.
Banana Boat Song
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Gallery
Label
- Record label
- Jubilee Records
- Record label
- RCA Victor
Achievements
- Award
- National Medal of Arts
- Award
- Marian Anderson Award
- Award
- Library of Congress Living Legend
- Award
- Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
- Award
- Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
- Award
- Paul Robeson Award
- Award
- Kennedy Center Honors
- Award
- Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award
- Award
- Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award
- Award
- Spingarn Medal
- Award
- Ambassador of Conscience Award
- Award
- Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award
- Award
- Four Freedoms Award – Freedom Medal
- Award
- Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
- Award
- NAACP Image Award – Chairman's Award
- Award
- Order of Jamaica
- Award
- Order of the Companions of O. R. Tambo
- Award
- star on Hollywood Walk of Fame
- Award
- honorary degree from Spelman College
- Award
- Theatre World Award
Influenced by
Similar artists
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Also known as: Belafonte, Belafonte Harry, Harold George Belafonte, Jr., Harry Belefonte, Harry Belfonte, Harry Bellafonte
Harry Belafonte was an American singer, actor, and civil rights activist who popularized calypso music with international audiences in the 1950s and 1960s. Belafonte's career breakthrough album Calypso (1956) was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.
All links
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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