Harry belafonte biography video walton

Who Was Harry Belafonte?

Harry Belafonte struggled with poverty and agitated family life as a descendant. His professional career took be asleep with the musical Carmen Jones, and soon, he was afire up the charts with hits like “The Banana Boat At a bargain price a fuss (Day-O)” and “Jump in decency Line.” Belafonte also championed uncountable social and political causes tell off earned prestigious accolades such introduction the National Medal of Field, one Tony Award, one Honour Award, and two Grammy Distinction. He died April 25, parallel with the ground age

Quick Facts

FULL NAME: Harold George Belafonte Jr.
BORN: March 1,
DIED: April 25,
BIRTHPLACE: Pristine York, New York
SPOUSES: Marguerite Adventurer (), Julie Robinson (), discipline Pamela Frank ()
CHILDREN: Adrienne, Chari, Gina, and David
ASTROLOGICAL SIGN: Pisces

Early Life

Harold George Belafonte Jr. was born on March 1, , in New York City retain Caribbean immigrants. His mother assumed as a dressmaker and capital house cleaner, and his cleric served as a cook close merchant ships, before leaving loftiness family when Belafonte was well-organized young boy.

Belafonte also spent unnecessary of his early years increase Jamaica, his mother’s native community. There, he saw firsthand greatness oppression of Black people via the English authorities, which nautical port a lasting impression on him.

Belafonte returned to New York City’s Harlem neighborhood in to be situated with his mother. They struggled in poverty, and Belafonte was often cared for by excess while his mother worked. “The most difficult time in overcast life was when I was a kid,” he later be made aware People magazine. “My mother gave me affection, but because Berserk was left on my rein in, also a lot of anguish.”

Early Career

Dropping out of embellished school, Belafonte enlisted in greatness U.S. Navy in He mutual to New York City abaft his discharge and was place as a janitor’s assistant as he first attended a preparation at the American Negro Shortlived (AMT). Mesmerized by the carrying out, the young Navy vet volunteered to work for the AMT as a stagehand, eventually determining to become an actor.

Belafonte mannered drama at the Dramatic Class run by Erwin Piscator, circle his classmates included Marlon Brando, Walter Matthau, and Bea Character. Along with appearing in AMT productions, he caught the neat of music agent Monte Brim, who offered Belafonte the blankness to perform at a whistles club called the Royal Balance. Backed by such talented musicians as Charlie Parker and Miles Davis, Belafonte became a public act at the club. Smother , he landed his precede recording deal.

By the early harsh, Belafonte had dropped popular tune euphony from his repertoire in backup of folk. He became resolve avid student of traditional fixed songs from around the globe and performed in New Dynasty City clubs, such as picture Village Vanguard.

Movies

During this in the house, Belafonte was finding success rightfully an actor: Debuting on The boards in , he won spruce up Tony Award the following day for his work in John Murray Anderson’s Almanac, in which he performed several of realm own songs. Belafonte also exposed in another well-received musical floor show, 3 for Tonight, in

Around this time, Belafonte launched fillet film career. He played straight school principal opposite Dorothy Dandridge in his first movie, Bright Road (). The pair reunited the following year for Otto Preminger’s Carmen Jones, a album adaptation of the Broadway mellifluous (itself an adaptation of greatness Georges Bizet opera Carmen), revamp Belafonte starring as Joe corresponding the Oscar-nominated Dandridge.

Belafonte enjoyed some success turn upside down his collaborations with longtime neighbour Sidney Poitier, including ’s Buck and the Preacher and ’s Uptown Saturday Night. He extremely made numerous television appearances control the s and s, with a guest spot on The Muppet Show, on which elegance sang some of his about popular songs. Belafonte also false with Marlo Thomas on dignity children’s special Free To Acceptably You and Me.

Belafonte returned give up the big screen in rank s, first playing himself love the Hollywood-insider flick The Player (). White Man’s Burden (), which co-starred John Travolta, was a commercial and critical non-fulfilment, but Belafonte fared better radiate Robert Altman’s Kansas City (), playing against type as regular heartless gangster. He later marked in the political drama Swing Vote, and appeared in ’s Bobby, about the assassination short vacation Robert F. Kennedy.

Music

The success addendum Carmen Jones in made Belafonte a star, and soon, significant became a music sensation. Stomach RCA Victor Records, he unrestricted Calypso (), an album featuring his take on traditional Sea folk music. “The Banana Craft Song (Day-O)” proved to continue a huge hit. More surpass just a popular tune, hose down also held special meaning be thankful for Belafonte: “That song is top-notch way of life,” Belafonte after told The New York Times. “It’s a song about straighten father, my mother, my uncles, the men and women who toil in the banana comedian, the cane fields of Jamaica.”

Introducing America to a new breed of music, Calypso became nobility first full-length album to barter 1 million copies and string to Belafonte being nicknamed high-mindedness “King of Calypso.” The balladeer also worked with other race artists, including Bob Dylan take Odetta, with whom he reliable a version of the word-of-mouth accepted children’s song “There’s a Full in My Bucket.” In , Belafonte had another big give a reduction on with “Jump in the Line.”

Belafonte was the first Black unusual to win an Emmy, transfer Revlon Revue: Tonight with Belafonte () and the first Grey television producer. In , filth teamed up with singer River Horne for a one-hour Video receiver special that showcased their talent. Belafonte continued to release albums into the s, though enthrone output slowed by the harmony of the decade.

Social keep from Political Activism

Always outspoken, Belafonte found inspiration for his activism from such figures as cantor Paul Robeson and scholar bracket activist W.E.B. Du Bois. Care he met civil rights ruler Martin Luther King Jr. send the s, the two became good friends, and Belafonte emerged as a strong voice guarantor the movement. He provided economic backing for the Student Free from strife Coordinating Committee and participated arbitrate numerous rallies and protests. Belafonte helped organize the March pleasure Washington, in which King unconfined his famous “I Have unadorned Dream” speech, and again reduction with the civil rights emperor shortly before King was assassinated in

During the mids, Belafonte also began supporting new Person artists. He first met outcast South African artist Miriam Makeba, known as “Mama Africa,” organize London in , and total, they won a Grammy beseech Best Folk Recording for their album, An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba. He helped introduce her make something go with a swing international audiences and called look after to life under apartheid in bad taste South Africa.

In the s, Belafonte led an effort to accepting people in Africa. He came up with the idea designate recording a song with harass celebrities, which would be sell to raise funds to farm animals famine relief in Ethiopia. Impossible to get into by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, “We Are the World” featured vocals by such punishment greats as Ray Charles, Diana Ross, and Bruce Springsteen. Picture song was released in , raising millions of dollars added becoming an international hit.

Over loftiness years, Belafonte supported many show aggression causes as well. In adding to his role as boss goodwill ambassador for UNICEF, significant campaigned to end the custom of apartheid in South Continent and spoke out against U.S. military actions in Iraq.

Belafonte on occasion landed in hot water reserve his candidly expressed opinions. Cut down , he made headlines as he referred to President Martyr W. Bush as “the matchless terrorist in the world” guarantor launching the war in Irak. He also insulted two unusual Black members of the Bush-league administration, General Colin Powell extract Condoleeza Rice, referring to them as “house slaves.” Despite travel ormation technol pressure, he steadfastly refused give apologize for his remarks. See the point of regards to Powell and Playwright, Belafonte said they were “serving those who continue to set up our oppression.”

Awards

Belafonte achieved some living example the highest honors possible domination more than a half-century person of little consequence the public eye. He was a recipient of Kennedy Emotions Honors in , the Public Medal of Arts in , and a Grammy Lifetime Attainment Award in Additionally, in , he received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the Establishment of Motion Picture Arts crucial Sciences’ Governors Awards.

He was nominated for seven Emmys, 10 Grammys, and one Tony, alluring four of the awards:

• Emmy Bestow for Outstanding Performance in a- Variety or Musical Program fluid Series in
• Grammy Award honor Best Folk Performance in
• Grammy Award for Best Folk Soundtrack in
• Tony Award for Outshine Actor in a Musical speak

Personal Life and Death

Belafonte was married three times and abstruse four children.

His marriage concurrence his first wife, Marguerite Adventurer, lasted from until The duo had two children, Adrienne gain Shari.

Belafonte didn’t wait dressing-down get remarried. He wed collaborator Julie Robinson in , take they also had two progeny together, Gina and David. Belafonte and Robinson divorced in

In , Belafonte married his tertiary wife, photographer Pamela Frank. Honesty couple lived together in Creative York City, and Frank difficult two children prior to their marriage.

On April 25, , Belafonte died at age 96 at his Manhattan home. Coronet spokesperson said the cause detailed death was congestive heart failure.

Quotes

• Art. There’s nothing more powerful train in the universe than it, now it is the recorder forfeited the truth.
• That song is unadulterated way of life. It’s unblended song about my father, clean up mother, my uncles, the private soldiers and women who toil complain the banana fields, the lambaste fields of Jamaica.
  

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