Harry Belafonte RIP
Harry Belafonte was one of the show biz industry's most enduring stars. Born in 1927, he achieved lasting fame as the man who popularized the folk music scene of the 1950s, and especially the musical style known as calypso. The singer later ventured into cinema, starring in films such as 'Carmen Jones' (1954) and 'Island in the Sun' (1957). But the American entertainer was equally celebrated for his political activism.
An ardent supporter of the civil rights movement throughout the 1960s, Belafonte was recognized globally for his humanitarian work, and was long ago appointed a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for his efforts in promoting a fairer and more just world for youngsters. The celebrated American singer and actor died on April 25 2023 of congestive heart failure. He was 96 years old.
Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. was born on March 1, 1927 in Harlem, New York City. The son of Jamaican-born parents, Belafonte served in the Navy during the Second World War.
Back in New York in the late 1940s, the 20-something Belafonte took in a play at the American Negro Theater, and fell in love with acting. He also bumped into fellow wannabee actor Sidney Poitier, and the two became lifelong buddies.
Belafonte took classes in acting at the Dramatic Workshop of The New School in New York. His voice and stagecraft was such that in 1954 he appeared in the Broadway revue 'John Murray Anderson's Almanac' (pictured), for which he received a Tony Award.
To help pay for acting lessons, Belafonte had started singing in various New York clubs such as the Royal Roost, where he was backed by such talented musicians as Charlie Parker and Miles Davis. In 1950, he made his debut at the legendary Village Vanguard jazz club. The burgeoning entertainer, however, soon developed an interest in folk music. In 1953, he signed a contract with RCA Victor. The Village Vanguard, incidentally, is the oldest operating jazz club in the Big Apple.
It's around this time that the singer launched his cinema career. His film debut was in 'Bright Road' alongside Dorothy Dandridge. Both Belafonte and Dandridge were known to audiences for their singing talents, and the movie showcased each of their musical abilities.
The following year Dorothy Dandridge and Harry Belafonte appeared in the musical 'Carmen Jones,' directed by Otto Preminger. Despite his lead role, Belafonte didn't sing in the film. Nonetheless, it was a huge hit, with Dandridge nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress, the first African American to be honored in the category. She lost to Grace Kelly. Pictured are Belafonte and Dandridge with Joe Adams in a publicity still from the film.
Belafonte's third studio album 'Calypso,' from 1956, introduced American audiences to calypso music, which had originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the early 20th century. One of the tracks included on the album is the traditional 'Day-O,' also known as 'The Banana Boat Song.' It became Belafonte's signature song.
By the mid-1950s, Belafonte was appearing at some of the most prestigious clubs in Las Vegas, venues such as the Sands Hotel and Casino, Dunes Hotel, and (pictured) the Riviera Hotel. His contemporaries at the time included Liberace, Sammy Davis Jr., and Frank Sinatra.
Hollywood beckoned again in late 1956 with Belafonte heading for location work in Barbados and Grenada for 'Island in the Sun.' Released in 1957, the movie was controversial for the time for its portrayal of interracial romance—the love scenes between Belafonte and co-star Joan Fontaine generated boycotts and violence in the South, with the South Carolina legislature threatening to fine any theater US$5,000 that dared to show the picture.
In 1948, Harry Belafonte married Marguerite Byrd, a union that lasted until 1957, during which they had two children together, Adrienne and Shari. His second marriage was to Julie Robinson. The couple also had two children, David, and Gina. They were married from 1957 to 2004.
Unperturbed by the storm kicked up by 'Island in the Sun,' Belafonte promptly appeared in 'Odds Against Tomorrow,' in which he plays a bank robber uncomfortably teamed with a racist partner (Robert Ryan). Directed by Robert Wise, the film was a critical and commercial success.
Arguably the most unusual movie Belafonte has appeared in is 'The World, the Flesh, and the Devil.' This science fiction doomsday film sees him playing a miner who after escaping a cave-in, resurfaces to discover humanity has been wiped out in a nuclear holocaust. He sets out to find survivors.
The singer closed the 1950s with a TV special, 'Tonight with Belafonte,' a revue of African music.
The singer won an Emmy Award for his work on 'Tonight with Belafonte,' and as the 1960s dawned he stepped back from cinema to fully concentrate on music and other interests.
Harry Belafonte involved himself in television production (he was the first African-American television producer in the United States). He's pictured with Nat King Cole after both signed formal contracts creating Cole-Belafonte Enterprises to produce properties for the stage, television, and motion pictures utilizing the talents of both, individually or together. The organization also aimed to afford greater opportunities for black artists in the entertainment business.
Do not let success go to your head and do not let failure get to your heart.
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