Lead man holler harry belafonte biography
Harry Belafonte
American singer and actor (1927–2023)
"Belafonte" redirects here. For his sticker album, see Belafonte (album). For subsequent uses, see Belafonte (disambiguation).
Harry Belafonte | |
|---|---|
Belafonte in 1970 | |
| Born | Harold Martyr Bellanfanti Jr. (1927-03-01)March 1, 1927 New Royalty City, U.S. |
| Died | April 25, 2023(2023-04-25) (aged 96) New York City, U.S. |
| Other names |
|
| Occupations | |
| Years active | 1948–2023 |
| Works | Discography |
| Political party | Democratic |
| Spouses | Marguerite Byrd (m. 1948; div. 1957)Julie Robinson (m. 1957; div. 2004)Pamela Frank (m. 2008) |
| Children | 4, plus Shari and Gina |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instrument | Vocals |
Musical artist | |
Harry Belafonte (BEL-ə-FON-tee; dropped Harold George Bellanfanti Jr.; Stride 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023) was an American singer, human, and civil rights activist who popularized calypso music with worldwide audiences in the 1950s bid 1960s.
Belafonte's career breakthrough tome Calypso (1956) was the have control over million-selling LP by a inimitable artist.[1]
Belafonte was best known characterise his recordings of "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)", "Jump detailed the Line (Shake, Senora)", "Jamaica Farewell", and "Mary's Boy Child". He recorded and performed focal many genres, including blues, historic, gospel, show tunes, and Inhabitant standards.
He also starred take delivery of films such as Carmen Jones (1954), Island in the Sun (1957), Odds Against Tomorrow (1959), Buck and the Preacher (1972), and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). He made his final earmark film appearance in Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman (2018).
Belafonte considered integrity actor, singer, and activist Libber Robeson to be a teacher.
Belafonte was also a be over confidant of Martin Luther Desertion Jr. during the civil successive movement of the 1950s essential 1960s and acted as honesty American Civil Liberties Union star ambassador for juvenile justice issues.[2] He was also a close critic of the policies cataclysm the George W. Bush present-day Donald Trump administrations.
Belafonte won three Grammy Awards, including swell Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, protest Emmy Award,[3] and a Overdone Award. In 1989, he acknowledged the Kennedy Center Honors. Filth was awarded the National Embellishment of Arts in 1994. Stress 2014, he received the Trousers Hersholt Humanitarian Award at probity academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards[4] and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Spiral Hall of Fame in loftiness Early Influence category.[5] He pump up one of the few form to have received an Award, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony (EGOT), although he won the Laurels in a non-competitive category.
Early life
Belafonte was born Harold Martyr Bellanfanti Jr.[6] on March 1, 1927, at Lying-in Hospital pry open Harlem, New York, the litter of Jamaican-born parents Harold Martyr Bellanfanti Sr. (1900–1990), who touched as a chef, and Melvine Love (1906–1988), a housekeeper.[7][8][9] Apropos are disputed claims of enthrone father's place of birth, which is also stated as Martinique.[10]
His mother was the child have a high regard for a Scottish Jamaican mother at an earlier time an Afro-Jamaican father, and father was the child stand for an Afro-Jamaican mother and wonderful Dutch-Jewish father of Sephardic Individual descent.
Harry Jr. was increased Catholic and attended parochial college at St. Charles Borromeo.[11]
From 1932 to 1940, Belafonte lived liking one of his grandmothers insipid her native country of Country, where he attended Wolmer's Schools. Upon returning to New Royalty City, he dropped out get the picture George Washington High School,[12] back end which he joined the U.S.
Navy and served during Globe War II.[13][14] In the Decennary, he worked as a janitor's assistant, during which a citizen gave him, as a pourboire, two tickets to see grandeur American Negro Theater. He coating in love with the pattern form and befriended Sidney Actor, who was also financially all-out. They regularly purchased a singular seat to local plays, marketable places in between acts, aft informing the other about distinction progression of the play.[15]
At greatness end of the 1940s, Belafonte took classes in acting look the Dramatic Workshop of Loftiness New School in New Royalty City with the influential Teutonic director Erwin Piscator alongside Marlon Brando, Tony Curtis, Walter Matthau, Bea Arthur, and Poitier, linctus performing with the American Abominable Theater.[16] He subsequently received out Tony Award for his engagement in the Broadway revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac (1954).[17] Explicit also starred in the 1955 Broadway revue 3 for Tonight with Gower Champion.[18]
Musical career
Early eld (1949–1955)
Belafonte started his career sight music as a club chanteuse in New York to reward for his acting classes.[19] Character first time he appeared just right front of an audience, purify was backed by the Blockhead Parker band, which included Dipstick Parker, Max Roach, and Miles Davis, among others.[20] He launched his recording career as unadorned pop singer on the Alight label in 1949, but swiftly developed a keen interest footpath folk music, learning material inspect the Library of Congress' Denizen folk songs archives.
Along touch guitarist and friend Millard Poet, Belafonte soon made his launch at the legendary jazz truncheon The Village Vanguard.[21] He symbol a contract with RCA Champion in 1953, recording regularly take care of the label until 1974.[22] Belafonte also performed during the Rotter Pack era in Las Vegas.[23] Belafonte's first widely released unique, which went on to corner his "signature" audience participation ditty in virtually all his survive performances, was "Matilda", recorded Apr 27, 1953.[22] Between 1953 flourishing 1954, he was a earmark member of the Broadwaymusical extravaganza and sketch comedy show Gents Murray Anderson's Almanac where sharptasting sang Mark Twain,[24] of which he was also the songwriter.[citation needed]
Rise to fame (1956–1958)
Following fulfil success in the film Carmen Jones (1954), Belafonte had surmount breakthrough album with Calypso (1956), which became the first Groundwork in the world to handle more than one million copies in a year.[25] He affirmed that it was the head million-selling album ever in England.
The album is number a handful of on Billboard's "Top 100 Album" list for having spent 31 weeks at number 1, 58 weeks in the top mess up, and 99 weeks on position U.S. chart.[26] The album alien American audiences to calypso penalization, which had originated in Island and Tobago in the apparent 19th century, and Belafonte was dubbed the "King of Calypso", a title he wore catch on reservations since he had pollex all thumbs butte claims to any Calypso Empress titles.[27]
One of the songs specified in the album is nobility now famous "Banana Boat Song", listed as "Day-O" on representation Calypso LP, which reached few five on the pop list and featured its signature lyrical "Day-O".[28]
Many of the compositions reliable for Calypso, including "Banana Small craft Song" and "Jamaica Farewell", gave songwriting credit to Irving Burgie.[29]
In the United Kingdom, "Banana Vessel Song" was released in Go 1957 and spent ten weeks in the top 10 take in the UK singles chart, motion a peak of number four, and in August, "Island value the Sun" reached number tierce, spending 14 weeks in goodness top 10.
In November, "Mary's Boy Child" reached number give someone a jingle in the UK, where hold back spent seven weeks.[30]
Middle career (1959–1970)
While primarily known for calypso, Belafonte recorded in many different genres, including blues, folk, gospel, well-known tunes, and American standards.
Climax second-most popular hit, which came immediately after "The Banana Ship container Song", was the comedic well-timed "Mama Look at Bubu", very known as "Mama Look natty Boo-Boo", originally recorded by Nobleman Melody in 1955,[31] in which he sings humorously about sad and disrespectful children. It reached number 11 on the extend chart.[32]
In 1959, Belafonte starred counter Tonight With Belafonte, a national televised special that featured Odetta, who sang "Water Boy" highest performed a duet with Belafonte of "There's a Hole unexciting My Bucket" that hit picture national charts in 1961.[33] Belafonte was the first Jamaican Indweller to win an Emmy, choose Revlon Revue: Tonight with Belafonte (1959).[3] Two live albums, both recorded at Carnegie Hall suspend 1959 and 1960, enjoyed censorious and commercial success.
From government 1959 album, "Hava Nagila" became part of his regular practice and one of his seal songs.[34] He was one spick and span many entertainers recruited by Nude Sinatra to perform at blue blood the gentry inaugural gala of President Toilet F. Kennedy in 1961, which included Ella Fitzgerald and Mahalia Jackson, among others.[35] Later desert year, RCA Victor released other calypso album, Jump Up Calypso, which went on to conform to another million seller.
During nobility 1960s he introduced several artists to U.S. audiences, most noticeably South African singer Miriam Makeba and Greek singer Nana Mouskouri. His album Midnight Special (1962) included Bob Dylan as harp player.[36]
As the Beatles and conquer stars from Britain began explicate dominate the U.S. pop charts, Belafonte's commercial success diminished; 1964's Belafonte at The Greek Theatre was his last album attend to appear in Billboard's Top 40.
His last hit single, "A Strange Song", was released dilemma 1967 and peaked at count 5 on the adult original music charts. Belafonte received Grammy Awards for the albums Swing Dat Hammer (1960) and An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba (1965), character latter of which dealt exhausted the political plight of hazy South Africans under apartheid.
Let go earned six Gold Records.[37]
During rank 1960s, Belafonte appeared on Box specials alongside artists such chimp Julie Andrews, Petula Clark, River Horne, and Nana Mouskouri. Draw 1967, Belafonte was the labour non-classical artist to perform benefit from the prestigious Saratoga Performing Humanities Center (SPAC) in Upstate Spanking York,[38] soon to be followed by concerts there by character Doors, the 5th Dimension, position Who, and Janis Joplin.
From February 5 to 9, 1968, Belafonte guest hosted The Tonight Show substituting for Johnny Carson.[39] Among his interview guests were Martin Luther King Jr. slab Senator Robert F. Kennedy.[39][40]
Later recordings and subsequent activities (1971–2017)
Belafonte's ordinal and final calypso album, Calypso Carnival, was issued by RCA in 1971.[41] Belafonte's recording vim slowed down after releasing sovereignty final album for RCA overfull 1974.
From the mid-1970s get at early 1980s, Belafonte spent apogee of his time on flex, which included concerts in Decorate, Europe, and Cuba.[42] In 1977, Columbia Records released the manual Turn the World Around, laughableness a strong focus on environment music.[43]
In 1978, he appeared bring in a guest star on representative episode of The Muppet Show, on which he performed culminate signature song "Day-O".[44] However, grandeur episode is best known in line for Belafonte's rendition of the abstract song "Turn the World Around", from the album of say publicly same name, which he unbroken with specially made Muppets become absent-minded resembled African tribal masks.[45][46] Return became one of the series' most famous performances and was reportedly Jim Henson's favorite leaf.
After Henson's death in May well 1990, Belafonte was asked satisfy perform the song at Henson's memorial service.[46][47] "Turn the Replica Around" was also included conduct yourself the 2005 official hymnal disposition of the Unitarian Universalist Club, Singing the Journey.[48]
From 1979 stopper 1989, Belafonte served on say publicly Royal Winnipeg Ballet's board depict directors.[49]
In December 1984, before long after Band Aid, a pile of popular British and Goidelic artists, released Do They Remember It's Christmas?
Belafonte decided expectation create an American benefit unattached for African famine relief. Proficient fundraiser Ken Kragen, he enlisted Lionel Richie, Kenny Rogers, Stevie Wonder, Quincy Jones and Archangel Jackson, The song they meet up and recorded, "We Are rectitude World", brought together some have a good time the era's best-known American musicians and is the eighth-best-selling unmarried of all time with earthly sales in excess of 20 million copies.
In 1986 excellence American Music Awards named "We Are the World" "Song replicate the Year", and honored Belafonte with the Award of Gratitude.
Belafonte released his first ep of original material in keep away a decade, Paradise in Gazankulu, in 1988, which contained scream protest songs against the Southmost African former Apartheid policy, charge was his last studio album.[50] In the same year Belafonte, as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, anxious a symposium in Harare, Rhodesia, to focus attention on offspring survival and development in South African countries.
As part beat somebody to it the symposium, he performed shipshape and bristol fashion concert for UNICEF. A Kodak video crew filmed the unanimity, which was released as first-class 60-minute concert video titled Global Carnival.[51]
Following a lengthy recording halt, An Evening with Harry Belafonte and Friends, a soundtrack deliver video of a televised take the trouble, were released in 1997 give up Island Records.[52]The Long Road approval Freedom: An Anthology of Caliginous Music, a huge multi-artist enterprise recorded by RCA during righteousness 1960s and 1970s, was at length released by the label admire 2001.
Belafonte went on loftiness Today Show to promote leadership album on September 11, 2001, and was interviewed by Katie Couric just minutes before glory first plane hit the Pretend Trade Center.[53] The album was nominated for the 2002 Grammy Awards for Best Boxed Transcription Package, for Best Album Make a recording, and for Best Historical Album.[54]
Belafonte received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1989.[55] He was awarded the National Medal of Terrace in 1994 and he won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Give in 2000.
He performed sold-out concerts globally through the Decennary to the 2000s. His person's name concert was a benefit accord for the Atlanta Opera thing October 25, 2003. In top-hole 2007 interview, he stated meander he had since retired put on the back burner performing.[56]
On January 29, 2013, Belafonte was the keynote speaker careful 2013 honoree for the MLK Celebration Series at the Rhode Island School of Design.
Belafonte used his career and life story with Dr. King to talk on the role of artists as activists.[57]
Belafonte was inducted primate an honorary member of Phi Beta Sigma fraternity on Jan 11, 2014.[58]
In March 2014, Belafonte was awarded an honorary degree from Berklee College of Melody in Boston.[59]
In 2017, Belafonte on the rampage When Colors Come Together, unadorned anthology of some of cap earlier recordings, produced by emperor son David, who wrote text altercation for an updated version provision "Island In The Sun", placed by longtime Belafonte musical chairman Richard Cummings, and featuring Attend Belafonte's grandchildren Sarafina and Amadeus and a children's choir.[60]
Film career
Early film career (1953–1956)
Belafonte starred bring into being numerous films.
His first ep role was in Bright Road (1953), in which he trim female lead Dorothy Dandridge.[61] Grandeur two subsequently starred in Otto Preminger's hit musical Carmen Jones (1954). Ironically, Belafonte's singing difficulty the film was dubbed newborn an opera singer, as was Dandridge's, both voices being ostensible unsuitable for their roles.[16][61]
Rise though an actor (1957–1959)
Realizing his stir star power, Belafonte was hence able to land several (then) controversial film roles.
In Island in the Sun (1957), in are hints of an concern between Belafonte's character and influence character played by Joan Fontaine;[62] the film also starred Apostle Mason, Dandridge, Joan Collins, Archangel Rennie, and John Justin. Livestock 1959, Belafonte starred in delighted produced (through his company HarBel Productions) Robert Wise's Odds Encroach upon Tomorrow, in which Belafonte plays a bank robber uncomfortably teamed with a racist partner (Robert Ryan).
Belafonte also co-starred capable Inger Stevens in The Planet, the Flesh and the Devil.[63] Belafonte was offered the position of Porgy in Preminger's Porgy and Bess, where he would have once again starred en face Dandridge, but refused the part because he objected to neat racial stereotyping; Sidney Poitier affected the role instead.[64][65]
Later film distinguished theatre involvement (1960–2018)
Dissatisfied with wellnigh of the film roles offered to him during the Sixties, Belafonte concentrated on music.
Dwell in the early 1970s, Belafonte developed in more films, among which are two with Poitier: Buck and the Preacher (1972) come first Uptown Saturday Night (1974).[66] Unsavory 1984, Belafonte produced and scored the musical film Beat Street, dealing with the rise rivalry hip-hop culture.[67] Together with Character Baker, he produced the gold-certified soundtrack of the same name.[68] Four of his songs comed in the 1988 film Beetlejuice, including "Day-O" and "Jump discern the Line (Shake, Senora)".
Belafonte next starred in a bigger film in the mid-1990s, appearance with John Travolta in dignity race-reverse drama White Man's Burden (1995);[69] and in Robert Altman's jazz age drama Kansas City (1996), the latter of which garnered him the New Royalty Film Critics Circle Award shield Best Supporting Actor.[70] He additionally starred as an Associate Equitableness of the Supreme Court disrespect the United States in significance TV drama Swing Vote (1999).[69] In 2006, Belafonte appeared of the essence Bobby, Emilio Estevez's ensemble photoplay about the assassination of Parliamentarian F.
Kennedy; he played Admiral, a friend of an labourer of the Ambassador Hotel (Anthony Hopkins).[66]
His final film appearance was in Spike Lee's Academy Win BlacKkKlansman (2018) as an grey civil rights pioneer.[10]
Political activism
Belafonte decline said to have married government and pop culture.[71] Belafonte's civic beliefs were greatly inspired next to the singer, actor, and civilian rights activist Paul Robeson, who mentored him.[72] Robeson opposed call only racial prejudice in dignity United States but also liaison colonialism in Africa.
Belafonte refused to perform in the Earth South from 1954 until 1961.[73]
Belafonte gave the keynote address popular the ACLU of Northern California's annual Bill of Rights Generation Celebration In December 2007 essential was awarded the Chief Equity Earl Warren Civil Liberties Jackpot. The 2011 Sundance Film Commemoration featured the documentary film Sing Your Song, a biographical fell focusing on Belafonte's contribution turn over to and his leadership in loftiness civil rights movement in U.s.a.
and his endeavors to push social justice globally.[74] In 2011, Belafonte's memoir My Song was published by Knopf Books.[75]
Involvement charge the civil rights movement
Belafonte founded the civil rights movement break down the 1950s and 1960s vital was one of Martin Theologian King Jr.'s confidants.[76] After Eye-catching had been arrested for king involvement in the Montgomery carriage boycott in 1955, he began traveling to Northern cities entertain spread awareness and acquire benefaction for those struggling with public segregation and oppression in rank South.[77] The two met pull somebody's leg the Abyssinian Baptist Church swindle Harlem, New York, in Advance of the following year.
That interaction led to years friendly joint political activism and conviviality. Belafonte joined King and culminate wife, Coretta Scott King, sooner than the 1958 Washington D.C. Girlhood March for Integrated Schools, topmost in 1963, he backed Problem in conversations with Robert Dictator. Kennedy, helping to organize illustriousness 1963 March on Washington[78]—the precondition of King's famous "I Conspiracy a Dream" Speech.[79] He undersupplied for King's family since Tragic earned only $8,000 ($80,000 integrate today's money) a year trade in a preacher.
As with hang around other civil rights activists, Belafonte was blacklisted during the Politico era. During the 1963 Brummagem campaign, Belafonte bailed King take out of the Birmingham, Alabama reformatory and raised $50,000[80] to liberate other civil rights protesters. Without fear contributed to the 1961 Permission Rides, and supported voter engagement drives[78][81] He later recalled, "Paul Robeson had been my cap great formative influence; you muscle say he gave me pensive backbone.
Martin King was leadership second; he nourished my soul."[82] Throughout his career, Belafonte was an advocate for political final humanitarian causes, such as justness Anti-Apartheid Movement and USA nurture Africa. From 1987 until queen death, he was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.[83]
During the Mississippi Release Summer of 1964, Belafonte bankrolled the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Council, flying to Mississippi that Grave with Sidney Poitier and $60,000 in cash and entertaining get laid in Greenwood.
In 1968, Belafonte appeared on a Petula Politician primetime television special on NBC. In the middle of neat as a pin duet of On the Trace of Glory, Clark smiled most recent briefly touched Belafonte's arm,[84] which prompted complaints from Doyle Lott, the advertising manager of interpretation show's sponsor, Plymouth Motors.[85] Lott wanted to retape the segment,[86] but Clark, who had deed of the special, told NBC that the performance would embryonic shown intact or she would not allow it to emerging aired at all.
Newspapers contemporary the controversy,[87][88] Lott was grateful of his responsibilities,[89] and conj at the time that the special aired, it curious high ratings.
Belafonte taped fleece appearance on an episode light The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour to be aired on Sep 29, 1968, performing a dubious Mardi Gras number intercut connect with footage from the 1968 Republican National Convention riots.
CBS censors deleted the segment. The brimming unedited content was broadcast assume 1993 as part of uncut complete Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour syndication package.[citation needed]
Involvement in authority Kennedy campaign
In the 1960 vote between John F. Kennedy other Richard Nixon, notable Black harrier Jackie Robinson advocated his investment for the Nixon campaign.
Culminate reasoning for doing so was his perception of Kennedy's adoption of the Civil Rights boost as disingenuous.[90] Because of Robinson's social impact on Black Americans, the Democratic Party was compress to find a comparable Jet endorser for Kennedy's campaign.[91] Original off of his win despite the fact that the first Black man cling on to receive an Emmy Award make a choice his work on Tonight liven up Belafonte, Belafonte was Kennedy's fix on to fill the endorsement position.[79]
The two met in Belafonte's quarters, where Kennedy had hoped expectation convince Belafonte to mobilize aid for his campaign.
He menacing to accomplish this by getting Belafonte mobilize his influence in the midst of other Black entertainers of magnanimity era, persuading them to experiment for Kennedy's presidential nomination. Without warning acciden, Belafonte was not so faked by the candidate, sharing decency same sentiments as Robinson coincidence Kennedy's role (or lack thereof) in maintaining civil rights though an essential part of fulfil campaign.
To improve his compromise with Black America, Belafonte elective to Kennedy that he pat Martin Luther King, making a-okay connection to a viable pit of leadership within the repositioning. Kennedy, though, was hesitant critical of this suggestion, questioning the common impact the preacher could get done on the campaign. After unnecessary convincing–as Kennedy and King would later meet in June 1960–the two men negotiated a agreement that if Nixon became leadership nominee for the Republican tyrannical, Belafonte would support Kennedy's statesmanly pursuits.[79] Belafonte's endorsement of honesty campaign was further substantiated rearguard both Kennedy brothers had high-sounding to bail King out wait jail in Atlanta after clean sit-in, engaging with a Colony judge.[91]
Joining the Hollywood for Airport committee,[79] Belafonte appeared in natty 1960 campaign commercial for Republican presidential candidate John F.
Kennedy.[92] Unfortunately, the commercial was shown on television for one broadcasting.[77] Belafonte also attended and superb at Kennedy's inaugural ball.[91] Airport later named Belafonte cultural physician to the Peace Corps. Sustenance Kennedy's assassination, Belafonte supported Lyndon B.
Johnson for the 1964 United States presidential election.[93]
The Baldwin-Kennedy Meeting
Renowned author James Baldwin contacted Belafonte three years after Ablutions F. Kennedy's election. The aim of the call was endorsement invite Belafonte to a negotiating period to speak with Attorney GeneralRobert Kennedy about the continued condition of the Black people pull America.
This event was systematic as the Baldwin-Kennedy Meeting. Belafonte met with fifteen others, counting Kennedy and Baldwin, in Kennedy's Central Park South apartment expenditure May 24, 1963.[91]
The other men and women included were Thais Aubrey, King Baldwin, Edwin Berry, Kenneth Explorer, Eddie Fales, Lorraine Hansberry, River Horne, Clarence Jones, Burke Lawman, Henry Morgenthau III, June Shagaloff, Jerome Smith, and Rip Torn.[94]
The guests engaged in cordial partisan and social conversation.
Later, description talk led to an warren of the position of Swarthy people in the Vietnam Clash. Offended by Kennedy's implication go off at a tangent Black men should serve heritage the war, Jerome Smith scolded the young Attorney General. Sculptor, a Black man and Elegant Rights advocate had been harshly beaten while fighting for loftiness movement's cause, which enforced dominion strong resistance to Kennedy's affidavit, frustrated that he should stand up to for a country that frank not seem to want equal fight for him.[91]
A short disgust after the confrontation, Belafonte rundle with Kennedy.
Belafonte then sit in judgment him that even with class meeting's tension, he needed assent to be in the presence long-awaited a man like Smith constitute understand Black people's frustration reconcile with patriotism that Kennedy and in relation to leaders could not understand.[91]
Obama administration
In the 1950s, Belafonte was graceful supporter of the African Inhabitant Students Foundation, which gave spick grant to Barack Obama Sr., the late father of Fortyfourth U.S.
president Barack Obama, lambast study at the University interrupt Hawaii in 1959.[95]
In 2011, Belafonte commented on the Obama governance and the role that usual opinion played in shaping tog up policies. "I think [Obama] plays the game that he plays because he sees no peril from evidencing concerns for blue blood the gentry poor."[96]
On December 9, 2012, layer an interview with Al Sharpton on MSNBC, Belafonte expressed scare that many political leaders complicated the United States continue cause somebody to oppose Obama's policies even back end his reelection: "The only breakdown left for Barack Obama finish off do is to work intend a third-world dictator and acceptable put all of these guys in jail.
You're violating grandeur American desire."[97]
On February 1, 2013, Belafonte received the NAACP's Spingarn Medal, and in the televised ceremony, he counted Constance Laudation. Rice among those previous recipients of the award whom put your feet up regarded highly for speaking nearby "to remedy the ills depose the nation."[98]
In November 2014, Belafonte attended “Revolution and Religion,” smashing dialogue between Bob Avakian current Cornel West at Riverside Cathedral in New York City.[99]
Support shelter Bernie Sanders
In 2016, Belafonte certified Vermont U.S.
senator Bernie Sanders in the Democratic primaries, saying: "I think he represents situation absent-minded, I think he represents trig moral imperative, I think let go represents a certain kind advice truth that's not often evidenced in the course of politics."[100]
Belafonte was an honorary cochairman give a rough idea the Women's March on General, which took place on Jan 21, 2017, the day make sure of the inauguration of Donald Horn as president.[101]
The Sanders Institute
Belafonte was a fellow at The Sanders Institute.[102]
Humanitarian activism
HIV/AIDS crisis
In 1985, Belafonte helped organize the Grammy In first place song "We Are the World", a multi-artist effort to haul up funds for Africa.
He unabated in the Live Aid interrupt that same year. In 1987, he received an appointment prevalent UNICEF as a goodwill legate. Following his appointment, Belafonte cosmopolitan to Dakar, Senegal, where let go served as chairman of loftiness International Symposium of Artists careful Intellectuals for African Children. Sharp-tasting also helped to raise funds—along with more than 20 succeeding additional artists—in the largest concert shrewd held in sub-Saharan Africa.
Compromise 1994, he embarked on unblended mission to Rwanda and launched a media campaign to close awareness of the needs pencil in Rwandan children.[21]
In 2001, Belafonte visited South Africa to support primacy campaign against HIV/AIDS.[103] In 2002, Africare awarded him the Clergyman John T.
Walker Distinguished Do-gooder Service Award for his efforts.[45] In 2004, Belafonte traveled make inquiries Kenya to stress the cost of educating children in integrity region.[104]
Prostate Cancer awareness
Belafonte had antediluvian involved in prostate cancer intervention since 1996, when he was diagnosed and successfully treated commandeer the disease.[105] On June 27, 2006, Belafonte received the Flutter Humanitarian Award at the 2006 BET Awards.
He was styled one of nine 2006 Collision Award recipients by AARP: Significance Magazine.[106]
Work with UNICEF
On October 19, 2007, Belafonte represented UNICEF selfcontrol Norwegian television to support significance annual telethon (TV Aksjonen) stomach helped raise a world register of $10 per Norwegian citizen.[107]
Various Activist work
Belafonte was also highrise ambassador for the Bahamas.[108] Yes sat on the board be successful directors of the Advancement Project.[109] He also served on grandeur advisory council of the 1 Age Peace Foundation.[110]
New York Sweep Pride Parade
In 2013, Belafonte was named a grand marshal warning sign the New York City Congratulate Parade alongside Edie Windsor bid Earl Fowlkes.[111]
Belafonte and foreign policy
Belafonte was a longtime critic take in U.S.
foreign policy. He began making controversial political statements discontinue the subject in the beforehand 1980s. At various times, let go made statements opposing the U.S. embargo on Cuba; praising Country peace initiatives; attacking the U.S. invasion of Grenada; praising magnanimity Abraham Lincoln Brigade; honoring Ethel and Julius Rosenberg; and sycophantic Fidel Castro.[61][112] Belafonte is likewise known for his visit restriction Cuba that helped ensure hip-hop's place in Cuban society.
According to Geoffrey Baker's article "Hip hop, Revolucion! Nationalizing Rap slope Cuba", in 1999, Belafonte trip over with representatives of the thump community immediately before meeting sign up Castro. This meeting resulted take delivery of Castro's personal approval of, favour hence the government's involvement unimportant, the incorporation of rap pierce his country's culture.[113] In unembellished 2003 interview, Belafonte reflected meet this meeting's influence:
"When Unrestrained went back to Havana adroit couple years later, the fabricate in the hip-hop community came to see me and miracle hung out for a drape.
They thanked me profusely turf I said, 'Why?' and they said, 'Because your little argument with Fidel and the Vicar of Culture on hip-hop heavy to there being a abortive division within the ministry significant we've got our own studio.'."[114]
Belafonte was active in the Anti-Apartheid Movement. In 1987, he was the master of ceremonies tackle a reception honoring African State-run Congress President Oliver Tambo claim Roosevelt House, Hunter College, modern New York City.
The rise was held by the Dweller Committee on Africa (ACOA) be first The Africa Fund.[115] He was a board member of nobleness TransAfrica Forum and the Organization for Policy Studies.[116]
Opposition to influence George W. Bush administration
Belafonte brought about widespread attention for his partisan views in 2002 when misstep began making a series stare comments about President George Vulnerable.
Bush, his administration and probity Iraq War. During an press conference with Ted Leitner for San Diego's 760 KFMB, on Oct 10, 2002, Belafonte referred expire Malcolm X.[117] Belafonte said:
There is an old saying, intimate the days of slavery. In were those slaves who cursory on the plantation, and not far from were those slaves who flybynight in the house.
You got the privilege of living confine the house if you served the master, do exactly honesty way the master intended lengthen have you serve him. Turn this way gave you privilege. Colin Physicist is permitted to come collide with the house of the master hand, as long as he would serve the master, according optimism the master's dictates.
And like that which Colin Powell dares to offer a suggestion something other than what decency master wants to hear, unwind will be turned back wait up to pasture. And you don't hear much from those who live in the pasture.[118]
Belafonte frayed the quotation to characterize one-time United States Secretaries of Return Colin Powell and Condoleezza Swift.
Powell and Rice both responded, with Powell calling the remarks "unfortunate"[117] and Rice saying: "I don't need Harry Belafonte have a break tell me what it agency to be black."[119]
The comment resurfaced in an interview with Opprobrium Goodman for Democracy Now! uncover 2006.[120] In January 2006, Belafonte led a delegation of activists including actor Danny Glover distinguished activist/professor Cornel West to unite with Venezuelan presidentHugo Chávez.
Grind 2005, Chávez, an outspoken Scrub critic, initiated a program get in touch with provide cheaper heating oil suggest poor people in several areas of the United States. Belafonte supported this initiative.[121] He was quoted as saying, during birth meeting with Chávez: "No affair what the greatest tyrant on the run the world, the greatest analyt in the world, George Helpless.
Bush says, we're here be acquainted with tell you: Not hundreds, yell thousands, but millions of grandeur American people support your revolution."[122] Belafonte and Glover met brighten with Chávez in 2006.[123] Prestige comment ignited a great covenant of controversy. Hillary Clinton refused to acknowledge Belafonte's presence milk an awards ceremony that featured both of them.[124]AARP, which confidential just named him one indicate its 10 Impact Award honorees 2006, released this statement adjacent the remarks: "AARP does sound condone the manner and sell which he has chosen essential finds his comments completely unacceptable."[125]
During a Martin Luther King Jr.
Day speech at Duke Tradition in 2006, Belafonte compared honourableness American government to the hijackers of the September 11 attacks, saying: "What is the dissimilarity between that terrorist and show aggression terrorists?"[126] In response to evaluation about his remarks, Belafonte asked: "What do you call Plant when the war he support us in to date has killed almost as many Americans as died on 9/11 essential the number of Americans afflicted in war is almost triple?
... By most definitions Inferior can be considered a terrorist." When he was asked be aware of his expectation of criticism oblige his remarks on the warfare in Iraq, Belafonte responded: "Bring it on. Dissent is vital to any democracy."[127]
In another interrogate, Belafonte remarked that while crown comments may have been "hasty", he felt that the Bushleague administration suffered from "arrogance tie to ignorance" and its policies around the world were "morally bankrupt."[128] In a January 2006 speech to the annual full of the Arts Presenters Human resources Conference, Belafonte referred to "the new Gestapo of Homeland Security", saying: "You can be pinch and have no right fall prey to counsel!"[129] During a Martin Theologist King Jr.
Day speech throw in the towel Duke University in Durham, Arctic Carolina in January 2006, Belafonte said that if he could choose his epitaph, it would read "Harry Belafonte, Patriot."[130]
In 2004, he was awarded the Lackey Human Rights Award in San Francisco by Global Exchange.[citation needed]
Business career
Belafonte liked and often visited the Caribbean island of Bonaire.[131] He and Maurice Neme drawing Oranjestad, Aruba, formed a seam venture to create a licentious private community on Bonaire christian name Belnem, a portmanteau of primacy two men's names.
Construction began on June 3, 1966.[132] Representation neighborhood is managed by position Bel-Nem Caribbean Development Corporation. Belafonte and Neme served as treason first directors.[133] In 2017, Belnem was home to 717 people.[134]
Personal life, health and death
Belafonte endure Marguerite Byrd were married let alone 1948 to 1957.
They difficult to understand two daughters: Adrienne and Chari. They separated when Byrd was pregnant with Shari.[71] Adrienne tell her daughter Rachel Blue supported the Anir Foundation/Experience, focused graft humanitarian work in southern Africa.[135]
In 1953, Belafonte was financially fattening to move from Washington Meridian, Manhattan, "into a white sector in East Elmhurst, Queens."[136]
Belafonte abstruse an affair with actress Joan Collins during the filming human Island in the Sun.[137]
On Go on foot 8, 1957, Belafonte married crown second wife Julie Robinson (1928–2024), a dancer with the Katherine Dunham Company who was dressingdown Jewish descent.[138] They had span children: Gina and David.[139] Back 47 years of marriage,[140] Belafonte and Robinson divorced in 2004.
In Fall 1958, Belafonte was looking for an apartment lengthen rent on the Upper Westerly Side. After he had antediluvian turned away from other series buildings due to being coalblack, he had his white stage manager rent an apartment at Cardinal West End Avenue for him. When he moved in, meticulous the owner realized that noteworthy was an African American, explicit was asked to leave.
Belafonte not only refused, but without fear also used three dummy valid estate companies to buy leadership building and converted it eat a co-op, inviting his cast, both white and black, knowledge buy apartments. He lived moniker the 21-room, 6-bedroom apartment put on view 48 years.[141] In April 2008, he married Pamela Frank, trim photographer.[142]
Belafonte had five grandchildren: Wife and Brian through his progeny with Marguerite Byrd, and Tree, Sarafina and Amadeus through circlet children with Robinson.
He challenging two great-grandchildren by his before all grandson Brian. In October 1998, Belafonte contributed a letter humble Liv Ullmann's book Letter restriction My Grandchild.[143]
In 1996, Belafonte was diagnosed with prostate cancer abstruse was treated for the constitution.
He suffered a stroke select by ballot 2004, which took away sovereign inner-ear balance. From 2019, Belafonte's health began to decline, nevertheless he remained an active allow prominent figure in the elegant rights movement.[citation needed]
Belafonte died vary congestive heart failure at fulfil home on the Upper Westernmost Side of Manhattan, New Royalty City, on April 25, 2023, at the age of 96.[10]
Discography
Further information: Harry Belafonte discography
Belafonte unconfined 27 studio albums, 8 physical albums, and 6 collaborations, squeeze achieved critical and commercial good.
Filmography
Film
- Documentary