Who is Harry Belafonte?

Although Harry Belafonte is no longer a household name, many of a certain age fondly remember him as a shining star of Hollywood films whose career was in its prime in the mid part of the 20^th century. Aside from being a film star, his considerable contributions to the entertainment industry also include music. While he made recordings in various music genres, he is most noted for Calypso, and is attributed for popularizing this appealing Caribbean music style. Belafonte is also credited with introducing multiculturalism and world music to the entertainment arena.

Belafonte hails from Harlem, New York, where he developed a love for the theatre early in life. In the 1940s, he took acting lessons along with other aspiring actors who would later experience success, such as Sydney Poitier and Tony Curtis. He starred in several films in the 1950s, but took a hiatus from acting during the 1960s to concentrate on his singing career. Belafonte later returned to the film industry in the 1970s, and over the next decades appeared in films, costarring in several with top actors, such as Poitier and John Travolta.

He started singing in New York clubs to provide funding for his acting lessons. However, due to his substantial talent, this activity that began as a means of equipping him for a film career led to his success in music as well. Although Belafonte’s specialty was considered Calypso, he also made recordings in blues, folk and gospel, as well as show tunes and American standards. His most popular recording was The Banana Boat Song. This tune was such a hit that even decades later people are still familiar with it. Belafonte’s versatile singing talent sustained his success until the early 1960s.

So who exactly is this Hollywood legend personally? This famous African American celebrity is a fascinating mix of good looks and talent, along with articulate speech and an aristocratic demeanor. During his long career, he has been a most vocal advocate for humanitarian and civil rights causes he feels passionately about. In the area of politics, he has been equally vocal and is known for expressing controversial, polarizing opinions.

Belafonte’s political passions included the early Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, when he was a trusted advisor to Martin Luther King, Jr. His passions didn’t end with civil rights, but extended to views on world leadership. Perhaps most polarizing of his political views are his sympathies toward communism, evidenced by his visits to noted leaders ruling with this philosophy, such as Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez, and warm relationships with leaders of the former Soviet Union. Strongly critical of the George W. Bush administration, Belafonte has called the former president a “terrorist” and referred to Colin Powel and Condoleezza Rice as “house slaves”.

Currently in his 80s, his zeal for various political and world issues is undimmed, and he travels widely, meeting with various groups seeking to hinder the spread of what he considers to be neoliberal capitalism. As he is afflicted with various health conditions, he probably depends upon a life alert system to make sure emergency medical problems do not overcome him in the night. Since he continues to fight for causes he believes in, he would be considered a hero by those who share his viewpoints.

Related articles

• ‘Sing Your Song’ recounts Harry Belafonte’s life (seattletimes.nwsource.com)
• SFist Tonight, 1/30: Harry Belafonte ‘Sing Your Song’ (sfist.com)
• “Harry Belafonte: Hear the Music!” (repeatingislands.com)
• Harry Belafonte Memoir and HBO Documentary Coming (inquisitr.com)
• Music Review: Harry Belafonte – Harry Belafonte: Sing Your Song: The Music (blogcritics.org)
• Wow…the Legend, BELAFONTE (fernexpress.wordpress.com)
• Harry Belafonte Is Old & Sleepy (wzlx.radio.com)
• Harry Belafonte Looks Back in Memoir (theroot.com)