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Harry Belafonte
Belafonte (center) at the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C with Sidney Poitier and Charlton Heston.
Belafonte (center) at the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C with Sidney Poitier and Charlton Heston. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a large political rally that took place in Washington D Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE (ˈpwɑːtie born February 20, 1927) is an Oscar - Golden Globe - BAFTA - and Grammy Charlton Heston (born John Charles Carter; October 4 1923 &ndash April 5 2008) was an American Actor of
Background information
Birth name Harold George Belafonete, Jr. [1]
Born March 1 1927 (1927 -03-01) (age 81)
Years active (Music) 1949 – 2003
Label(s) RCA Victor
CBS
EMI
Island

Harold George Belafonte, Jr. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events December 29 - Les Paul and Mary Ford marry Mitch Miller begins his career as one of the 20th century's See also 2003 in music (UK Musical groups established in 2003 Record labels In the Music industry, a record label can be a Brand and a Trademark associated with the Marketing of music recordings and Music RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. This article is about the record label founded in 2006 For the earlier CBS Records label see Columbia Records. The EMI Group is a British music company comprising the major record company EMI Music – which operates several labels and is based in Kensington in Island Records is a Record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. (born March 1, 1927) is an American musician, actor and social activist. Events 86 BC - Lucius Cornelius Sulla, at the head of a Roman Republic army enters in Athens, removing the Tyrant Year 1927 ( MCMXXVII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the Activism, in a general sense can be described as intentional action to bring about social or political change One of the most successful Jamaican musicians in history, he was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style in the 1950s. Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean Music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago at about the start of the 20th century The Caribbean (ˌkærəˡbiən kæ'rəbiən Cariben|Caraïben or Caraïben; Caraïbe or more commonly Antilles; Caribe is a Region consisting Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing the "Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O". Throughout his career, he has been an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes. Humanitarianism is an active belief in Humanism (the idea of the value of human life whereby Humans practice benevolent treatment and provide assistance to other humans In recent years he has been a vocal critic of the policies of the Bush Administration. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States.

Contents

Biography

Youth and early career

Harold George Belafonete, Jr. (as spelled at birth)[2] was born in Harlem, New York, the son of Melvine (née Love), a domestic worker, and Harold George Belafonete, Sr. Harlem is a neighborhood in the New York City borough of Manhattan, long known as a major African American cultural and business center New York ( is a state in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeastern regions of the United States and is the nation's third most populous , a chef in the British Navy and native of the island Martinique. A chef is a person who cooks professionally In a professional kitchen setting the term is used only for the one person in charge of everyone else in the kitchen the executive Martinique is an Island in the eastern Caribbean Sea, having a land area of 1128 km² [3][4][5][6] From 1935 to 1939, he lived with his grandmother in the village of Aboukir in her native country of Jamaica. Jamaica (ˈdʒəˈmeɪkə} is an Island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length and as much as in width situated in the Caribbean Sea. When he returned to New York City he attended George Washington High School[7] after which he joined the Navy and served during World War II. The City of New York George Washington High School was a Public high school located in the Fort George neighborhood of the Washington Heights section of Manhattan in World War II, or the Second World War, (often abbreviated WWII) was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including [8] At the end of the 1940s, he took classes in acting alongside Marlon Brando, Tony Curtis, Walter Matthau, Bea Arthur, and Sidney Poitier, while performing with the American Negro Theatre. Marlon Brando Jr (April 3 1924 – July 1 2004 was an Academy Award -winning American Actor, whose body of work spanned over half a century Tony Curtis (born Bernard Schwartz June 3, 1925) is an American film actor Walter John Matthau ( October 1, 1920 – July 1, 2000) was an American award-winning Actor best known for his role Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE (ˈpwɑːtie born February 20, 1927) is an Oscar - Golden Globe - BAFTA - and Grammy The American Negro Theater (ANT was formed in Harlem on June 5, 1940 by writer Abram Hill and actor Frederick O'Neal. He subsequently received a Tony Award for his participation in the Broadway revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac. The Antoinette Perry Awards for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as the Tony Awards, recognize achievement in live American Theatre and are presented John Murray Anderson 's Almanac opened on December 10 1953 at New York's Imperial Theatre, New York City, United States.

Music career

Calypso (1956)
Calypso (1956)

Belafonte started his career in music as a club singer in New York, to pay for his acting classes. Calypso is an album by Harry Belafonte, released by RCA Victor (LPM-1248 in 1956 The first time he appeared in front of an audience he was backed by the Charlie Parker band, which included Charlie Parker himself, Max Roach, and Miles Davis among others. Maxwell Lemuel Roach ( January 10, 1924 &ndash August 16, 2007) was an American Jazz Percussionist, Drummer Miles Dewey Davis III (May 26 1926 &ndash September 28 1991 was an American Jazz Trumpeter, Bandleader, and Composer. At first he was a pop singer, launching his recording career on the Jubilee label in 1949, but later he developed a keen interest in folk music, learning material through the Library of Congress' American folk songs archives. Jubilee Records was a Record label specializing in Rhythm and blues along with novelty records Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous The Library of Congress is the De facto National library of the United States and the research arm of the United States Congress With guitarist and friend Millard Thomas, Belafonte soon made his debut at the legendary jazz club The Village Vanguard. The Village Vanguard is a Jazz club in Greenwich Village in New York City.

In 1952 he received a contract with RCA Victor. RCA Records (originally The Victor Talking Machine Company, then RCA Victor is one of the flagship labels of Sony Music Entertainment. His first full-release single was Matilda, recorded April 27, 1953, which went on to remain his 'signature' song throughout his career. Matilda is a calypso (sometimes spelled Mathilda) lamenting a woman who took a man for all he was worth Events 1124 - David I becomes King of Scotland. 1296 - Battle of Dunbar: The Scots are defeated Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. [9] His breakthrough album Calypso (1956) became the first LP to sell over 1 million copies (Bing Crosby's White Christmas and Tennessee Ernie Ford's Sixteen Tons, both singles, had previously surpassed the 1 million mark). Calypso is an album by Harry Belafonte, released by RCA Victor (LPM-1248 in 1956 Long play (LP record albums are 33⅓  Rpm vinyl Gramophone records (phonograph records generally either 10- or 12- Inches in diameter Harry Lillis “Bing” Crosby ( May 3, 1903 &ndash October 14, 1977) was an Academy Award winning American Popular " White Christmas " is an Irving Berlin song whose lyrics reminisce about White Christmases. Ernest Jennings Ford ( February 13, 1919 – October 17, 1991) better known by the Stage name Tennessee Ernie Ford, was " Sixteen Tons " is a song about the misery of Coal mining, first recorded in 1946 by U The album is number four on Billboard's "Top 100 Album" list for having spent 31 weeks at number 1, 58 weeks in the top ten, and 99 weeks on the U. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry S. charts. The album introduced American audiences to Calypso music and Belafonte was dubbed the "King of Calypso", a title he wore with some reservations. Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean Music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago at about the start of the 20th century One of the songs included in the album is the now famous "Banana Boat Song," with its signature lyric "Day-O". While primarily known for his Calypso songs, Belafonte has recorded in many genres, including blues, folk, gospel, show tunes, and American standards. The Blues is a vocal and instrumental form of Music based on the use of the Blue notes It emerged as an accessible form of self-expression Folk music can have a number of different meanings including Traditional music: The original meaning of the term "folk music" was synonymous Gospel music is Music that is written to express either personal or a communal belief regarding Christian life as well as (in terms of the varying music styles to A show tune is a Popular song originally written as part of the score of a "show" (or stage musical, especially if the piece in question has become Great American Songbook (sometimes abbreviated as "GAS" is a term referring to the interrelated music of Broadway musical theater His second-best hit, which came immediately after "The Banana Boat Song", was the novelty tune "Mama Look at Bubu", also known as "Mama Look a Boo-Boo", in which he sings humorously about misbehaving and disrespectful children.

Belafonte continued to record for RCA through the 1950s to the 1970s. Two live albums, both recorded at Carnegie Hall in 1959 and 1960, enjoyed critical and commercial success. Carnegie Hall (generally ˌkɑrnɨgi ˈhɔːl is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east He was one of many entertainers recruited by Frank Sinatra to perform at the Inaugural gala of President John F. Kennedy in 1961. Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra (December 12 1915 &ndash May 14 1998 was an American singer and actor John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of That same year he released his second Calypso album, Jump Up Calypso, which went on to become another million seller.

During the 1960s he introduced a number of artists to American audiences, most notably South African singer Miriam Makeba and Greek singer Nana Mouskouri. Miriam Makeba (b March 4, 1932) is a Grammy Award-winning South African singer also known as Mama Afrika. Nana Mouskouri (in Greek Nάνα Μούσχουρη) born as Ioanna Mouskhouri on October 13 1934, in Chania, Crete, His album Midnight Special (1962) featured the first-ever recorded appearance by a then young harmonica player named Bob Dylan. Midnight Special is a 1962 album by Jamaican American singer Harry Belafonte. Bob Dylan (born Robert Zimmerman, May 24 1941 in Duluth, Minnesota) is an American singer-songwriter author poet and painter who has been a major As The Beatles and other stars from Britain began to dominate the U. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 S. pop charts, Belafonte's impact as a commercial force diminished; 1964's Belafonte At The Greek Theatre was his last album to appear in Billboard's Top 40. See Billboard (Turkish magazine Billboard is a weekly American Magazine devoted to the Music industry

Belafonte has received a Grammy Award for the albums Swing That Hammer (1960) and An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba (1965). The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences The latter album dealt with the political plight of black South Africans under apartheid. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa He has been awarded six Gold Records. [10]

Belafonte's album output in the 1970s slowed after leaving RCA. He released only one album of original material in the 1980s, coinciding with a stronger focus on politics and activism. A soundtrack and video of a televised concert were released in 1997 by Island Records. Island Records is a Record label that was founded by British record producers in Jamaica. The Long Road to Freedom, An Anthology of Black Music, a huge multi-artist project recorded during the 1960s and 1970s while he was still with RCA, was finally released by the label in 2001.

The "Turn the World Around" number on The Muppet Show.
The "Turn the World Around" number on The Muppet Show. The Muppet Show is an American Television program featuring a cast of Muppets which was produced by Jim Henson and his team from

Belafonte was the first African-American man to win an Emmy, with his first solo TV special Tonight with Belafonte (1959). During the 1960s he appeared in a number of TV specials, alongside such artists as Julie Andrews, Petula Clark, Lena Horne, and Nana Mouskouri. Dame Julie Elizabeth Andrews, DBE (born Julia Elizabeth Wells on October 1 1935) is an award-winning English Actress Petula Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932 is an English singer actress and Composer best known for her upbeat popular international hits Lena Mary Calhoun Horne (born June 30, 1917) is an iconic American singer and Actress. Nana Mouskouri (in Greek Nάνα Μούσχουρη) born as Ioanna Mouskhouri on October 13 1934, in Chania, Crete, He was also a guest star on a memorable episode of The Muppet Show in 1978, in which he sang his signature song "Day-O" on television for the very first time. The Muppet Show is an American Television program featuring a cast of Muppets which was produced by Jim Henson and his team from However, the episode is best known for Belafonte singing the spiritual song, "Turn the World Around", that is performed with Muppets designed like African tribal masks. It has become one of the most famous performances in the series. It was reported to be Jim Henson's favorite episode, and Belafonte did a reprise of the song at Henson's funeral in 1990. For other uses of "Henson" see Henson. James Maury "Jim" Henson (September 24 1936 &ndash May 16 1990 was one of

Harry Belafonte received the Kennedy Center Honors in 1989. He was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994 and he won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000. The National Medal of Arts is an award and title created by the Congress of the United States in 1984 for the purpose of honoring artists and patrons of the arts The Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award is awarded by the Recording Academy to "performers who during their lifetimes have made creative contributions of outstanding

Belafonte has been a major concert draw since his first world tour in 1956. He has continued to perform before audiences globally through the 1950s to the 2000s. He gave his last concert in 2003, and in a recent interview stated that he has since retired from performing. [11]

Film career

Poster for the film Odds Against Tomorrow.
Poster for the film Odds Against Tomorrow. Odds Against Tomorrow is a 1959 Film noir Crime film produced and directed by Robert Wise.

Harry Belafonte has starred in several films. His first major film role was in Bright Road (1953), in which he appeared alongside Dorothy Dandridge. Dorothy Jean Dandridge ( November 9, 1922 &ndash September 8, 1965) was an American Actress and Popular singer The two subsequently starred in Otto Preminger's hit musical Carmen Jones (1954). Otto Ludwig Preminger ( December 5[[ 906]]&ndash April 23[[ 986]] was an Austrian born Film director who moved from the theatre to Hollywood Carmen Jones is a 1943 Broadway musical, later made into a 1954 Musical film; the play also ran for a season in 1991 at London Ironically Belafonte's lyrics in the film were dubbed by an opera singer, as Belafonte's own singing voice was seen as unsuitable for the role. Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto Using his star clout, Belafonte was subsequently able to realize several then controversial film roles. In 1957's Island in the Sun there are hints of an affair between Belafonte's character and Joan Fontaine. Joan Fontaine (born October 22, 1917) is an Academy Award -winning British Actress in American films In 1959 he starred in and produced Robert Wise's Odds Against Tomorrow, in which he plays a bank robber, uncomfortably teamed with a racist partner (Robert Ryan). Robert Wise ( September 10, 1914 &ndash September 14, 2005) was an American sound effects editor film editor and Academy Odds Against Tomorrow is a 1959 Film noir Crime film produced and directed by Robert Wise. List of racism-related topics|Racism by country Racism, by its simplest definition is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that He also co-starred with Inger Stevens in The World, the Flesh and the Devil. Inger Stevens ( October 18, 1934 – April 30, 1970) was a Golden Globe -winning Emmy -nominated Swedish-American The World The Flesh and the Devil is a 1959 science fiction doomsday film written and directed by Ranald MacDougall.

Belafonte was offered the role of Porgy in Otto Preminger's Porgy and Bess, but refused the role, because he objected to the racial stereotyping of African Americans in the story. Otto Ludwig Preminger ( December 5[[ 906]]&ndash April 23[[ 986]] was an Austrian born Film director who moved from the theatre to Hollywood Porgy and Bess is an Opera, first performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, Libretto by DuBose Heyward, and An ethnic stereotype is a generalized representation of an Ethnic group, composed of what are thought to be typical characteristics of members of the group African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Feeling dissatisfied with the film roles available to him, he abandoned film in favour of his music career during the 1960s.

In the early 1970s Belafonte briefly resurfaced in a number of films including two films in which he starred alongside Sidney Poitier, Buck and the Preacher (1972) and Uptown Saturday Night (1974). Sir Sidney Poitier, KBE (ˈpwɑːtie born February 20, 1927) is an Oscar - Golden Globe - BAFTA - and Grammy For the Camp Lo album see Uptown Saturday Night (album Uptown Saturday Night is a 1974 Comedy

In 1984, Belafonte produced and scored the musical film Beat Street, dealing with the rise of hip-hop culture. A film score is a broad term referring to the music in a film which is generally categorically separated from songs used within a film The musical film is a Film genre in which several Songs sung by the characters are interwoven into the narrative "Beat Street" may also refer to Orange Street in Kingston Jamaica. Hip hop is a cultural movement which developed in New York City in the 1970s primarily among African Americans and Latinos.

Belafonte would not star in a major film again until the mid-1990s, when he appeared alongside John Travolta in the race-reverse drama White Man's Burden (1995) and in Robert Altman's jazz age drama Kansas City (1996). White Man's Burden is a 1995 Dramatic film about racism in an alternate America where African Americans and Caucasian Americans Robert Bernard Altman (February 20 1925 – November 20 2006 was an American Film director known for making films that are highly naturalistic, but with Jazz is an American Musical art form which originated in the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States Kansas City is a 1996 Film, directed by Robert Altman, and featuring numerous jazz tracks He also starred as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in the TV drama Swing Vote (1999). Associate Justices of the Supreme Court of the United States are the members of the Supreme Court of the United States other than the Chief Justice of the United States

In late 2006, Belafonte appeared in the role of Nelson, a friend of an employee of the Ambassador Hotel played by Anthony Hopkins, in Bobby, Emilio Estevez's ensemble drama about the assassination of Robert Kennedy. The Ambassador Hotel was a landmark hotel in Los Angeles California and location of the Cocoanut Grove Nightclub. Sir Philip Anthony Hopkins, CBE (born 31 December 1937 is a Welsh Film, stage and Television Actor. Emilio Estévez (born May 12, 1962) is a Golden Globe - and Screen Actors Guild (SAG Award -nominated American Actor Robert Francis "Bobby" Kennedy (November 20 1925 – June 6 1968 also called RFK, was the United States Attorney General from 1961 to 1964 and a

Political and humanitarian activism

Belafonte's political beliefs are greatly inspired by the man that he still views to this day as his mentor, singer and activist Paul Robeson. Paul LeRoy Bustill Robeson ( April 9, 1898 &ndash January 23, 1976) was a multi-lingual American Actor, athlete [12] Paul Robeson was in his time a controversial figure for strongly supporting the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War. The Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR was a constitutionally Socialist state that existed in Eurasia from 1922 to 1991 Cold War is the state of conflict tension and competition that existed between the United States and the Soviet Union (USSR and their respective allies from the He strongly opposed racial prejudice in the United States, and western colonialism in Africa. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the See Colony and Colonization for examples of colonialism which do not refer to Western colonialism

Like Robeson and other African-American entertainers, Belafonte's success in the arts did not protect him from racial discrimination, particularly in the South of the United States. African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa List of racism-related topics|Racism by country Racism, by its simplest definition is the belief that race is the primary determinant of human traits and capacities and that As a result, he refused to perform in the South of the U. S. from 1954 until 1961. In 1960, President John F. Kennedy named Belafonte as cultural advisor to the Peace Corps. John Fitzgerald "Jack" Kennedy (May 29 1917&ndashNovember 22 1963 often referred to by his initials JFK, was the thirty-fifth President of The Peace Corps is an independent United States federal agency. Belafonte was an early supporter of the Civil Rights Movement in the 1950s and one of Martin Luther King's confidants. See also Protests of 1968 Historically the civil rights movement was a concentrated period of time around the world of approximately twenty years (1960-1980 in Martin Luther King Jr ( January 15, 1929 April 4, 1968) was an American clergyman, Activist and prominent leader He provided for King's family, since King made only $8,000 a year as a preacher. Like many civil rights activists, he was blacklisted during the McCarthy era. Joseph Raymond McCarthy (November 14 1908 – May 2 1957 was an American politician who served as a Republican U He bailed King out of the Birmingham City Jail and raised thousands of dollars to release other imprisoned civil rights protesters. Birmingham (ˈbɝmɪŋhæm is the largest City in the US state of Alabama and is the County seat of Jefferson County. He financed the Freedom Rides, supported voter registration drives, and helped to organize the March on Washington in 1963. Freedom Rider is also a song by Traffic and later Rascal Flatts Civil Rights activists called Freedom Riders rode in interstate buses Voter registration is the requirement in some democracies for Citizens and residents to check in with some central registry specifically for the purpose of being allowed The following is a list of protest marches on Washington DC. Pre-1900 April 30, 1894 - Coxey's Army.

Belafonte speaking at the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C
Belafonte speaking at the 1963 Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C

In 1968, Belafonte appeared on a Petula Clark primetime television special on NBC. The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom was a large political rally that took place in Washington D Petula Clark, CBE (born 15 November 1932 is an English singer actress and Composer best known for her upbeat popular international hits The National Broadcasting Company ( NBC) is an American Television network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's In the middle of a song, Clark smiled and briefly touched Belafonte's arm, which made the show's sponsor, Plymouth Motors, nervous. Plymouth (founded 1928 - dissolved 2001 is a Marque of Automobile based in the United States, marketed by the Chrysler Corporation Plymouth wanted to cut out the segment, but Clark, who had ownership of the special, told NBC that the performance would be shown intact or she would not allow the special to be aired at all. American newspapers published articles reporting the controversy and, when the special aired, it grabbed high viewing figures.

Belafonte appeared on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour and performed a controversial "Mardi Gras" number with footage intercut from the 1968 Democratic National Convention riots. The Smothers Brothers are an American music-and- Comedy team consisting of the brothers Tom ("Tommy" and Dick Smothers. " Mardi Gras " ( French for Fat Tuesday) is the day before Ash Wednesday. Chicago Convention redirects here for the Convention on International Civil Aviation for the event also referred to by this name CBS censors deleted the entire segment from the program. CBS Broadcasting Inc ( CBS) is an American radio and Television network.

In 1985, he was one of the organizers behind the Grammy Award winning song "We Are the World," a multi-artist effort to raise funds for Africa, and performed in the Live Aid concert that same year. The Grammy Awards (originally called the Gramophone Awards)—or Grammys —are presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences " We Are the World " is a 1985 song written by Michael Jackson and Lionel Richie, produced and conducted by Quincy Jones and recorded Live Aid was a multi-venue rock music concert held on. The event was organized by Bob Geldof and Midge Ure to raise funds for famine relief in Ethiopia

In 1987, he received an appointment to UNICEF as a goodwill ambassador. The United Nations Children's Fund (or UNICEF) was created by the United Nations General Assembly on December 11, 1946 Following his appointment, Belafonte travelled to Dakar, Senegal, where he served as chairman of the International Symposium of Artists and Intellectuals for African Children. For the Dakar Rally see Dakar Rally. For the Israeli submarine see INS Dakar. Senegal (le Sénégal officially the Republic of Senegal, is a country south of the Sénégal River in western Africa. He also helped to raise funds, alongside more than 20 other artists, in the largest concert ever held in sub-Saharan Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa is a geographical term used to describe the area of the African continent which lies south of the Sahara, or those African countries In 1994 he went on a mission to Rwanda, and launched a media campaign to raise awareness of the needs of Rwandan children. The Republic of Rwanda (ruːˈændə or /rəˈwɑːndə/ in English ɾwanda or in Kinyarwanda is a small Landlocked country in the In 2001 he went to South Africa to support the campaign against HIV/AIDS. The Republic of South Africa (also known by other official names) is a country located at the southern tip of the continent of Africa In 2002, Africare awarded him the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award for his efforts to assist Africa. Africare is a United States based Non-profit organization specialized in Development aid for Africa. The Bishop John T Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award (BWD or Bishop Walker Dinner is an award presented annually by Africare to recognize those whose work has In 2004 Belafonte went to Kenya to stress the importance of educating children in the region. The Republic of Kenya is a country in East Africa. It is bordered by Ethiopia to the north Somalia to the northeast Tanzania to the south

Belafonte has been involved in prostate cancer advocacy since 1996, when he was diagnosed and successfully treated for the disease. [13]

On June 27, 2006, Belafonte was the recipient of the BET Humanitarian Award at the 2006 BET Awards. Events 1358 - Republic of Dubrovnik is founded 1709 - Peter the Great defeats Charles XII of Sweden Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. He was named one of nine 2006 Impact Award recipients by AARP The Magazine. AARP The Magazine is a Bi-monthly Magazine published by AARP, which focuses on aging issues [14]

Belafonte has been a longtime critic of U.S. foreign policy. The foreign policy of the United States is highly influential on the world stage as it is a Superpower. He began making controversial political statements on this subject in the early 1980s. He has, at various times, made statements opposing the U. S. embargo on Cuba, praising Soviet peace initiatives, attacking the U.S. invasion of Grenada, praising the Abraham Lincoln Brigade, honoring Ethel and Julius Rosenberg and praising Fidel Castro. The Republic of Cuba (ˈkjuːbə or) consists of the island of Cuba (the largest and second-most populous island of the Greater Antilles) Isla de la A soviet (сове́т, "council" originally was a workers' local council in late Imperial Russia. The Invasion of Grenada, codenamed Operation Urgent Fury, was an Invasion of the nation of Grenada, an island in the Caribbean Sea 100 miles north The Abraham Lincoln Brigade refers to volunteers from the United States who served in the Spanish Civil War in the International Brigades. Julius Rosenberg (May 12 1918 &ndash June 19 1953 and Ethel Greenglass Rosenberg (September 28 1915 &ndash June 19 1953 were American Communists who were executed Fidel Alejandro Castro Ruz (born August 13 1926 is a Cuban revolutionary leader who was prime minister of Cuba from December 1959 to December 1976 and then president until [15]

Harry Belafonte is additionally known for his visit to Cuba which helped ensure hip-hop’s place in Cuban society. According to Geoffrey Baker’s article “Hip hop, Revolucion! Nationalizing Rap n Cuba,” in 1999, Belafonte met with representatives of the rap community immediately before meeting with Fidel Castro. This meeting resulted in Castro’s personal approval of (and hence the government’s involvement in), the incorporation of rap into his country’s culture. [16] In a 2003 interview, Belafonte reflected upon this meeting’s influence: “When I went back to Havana a couple years later, the people in the hip-hop community came to see me and we hung out for a bit. They thanked me profusely and I said, why? and they said, because, your little conversation with Fidel and the Minister of Culture on hip-hop led to there being a special division within the ministry and we've got our own studio. ” [17]

Belafonte was involved in the anti-apartheid movement. He was the Master of Ceremonies at a reception honoring African National Congress President Oliver R. Tambo at Roosevelt House, Hunter College in New York City. The City of New York The reception was held by the American Committee on Africa (ACOA) and The Africa Fund. [18] In December 2007 he endorsed John Edwards for the 2008 Presidential Election. December 2007 is the twelfth month of that year It began on a Saturday and 31 days later ended on a Monday Johnny Reid "John" Edwards (born June 10 1953 The United States presidential election of 2008, scheduled for Tuesday November 4 2008 will be the 56th consecutive

In December 2007, Belafonte gave the keynote address and was awarded the Chief Justice Earl Warren Civil Liberties Award at the ACLU of Northern California's annual Bill of Rights Day Celebration.

Opposition to the Bush Administration

Belafonte achieved widespread attention for his political views in 2002 when he began making a series of comments about President George W. Bush, his administration and the Iraq War. George Walker Bush ( born July 6 1946 is the forty-third and current President of the United States. The Iraq War, also known as the Second Gulf War, the Occupation of Iraq, or the War in Iraq, is an ongoing Military campaign

During an interview with Ted Leitner for San Diego's 760 KFMB, in October 2002, Belafonte referenced a quote made by Malcolm X. Ted Leitner is a former KFMB News 8 sportscaster and former longtime radioman of 760 KFMB as sportscaster for the San Diego Chargers. October 2002: January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - Malcolm X (born Malcolm Little; May 19 1925 February 21 1965 also known as El-Hajj Malik El- Shabazz, was an African American [19] Belafonte said:

"There is an old saying, in the days of slavery. As a social-economic system slavery is a legal institution under which a Person (called "a slave" is compelled to work for another There were those slaves who lived on the plantation, and there were those slaves who lived in the house. You got the privilege of living in the house if you served the master, do exactly the way the master intended to have you serve him. That gave you privilege. Colin Powell is committed to come into the house of the master, as long as he would serve the master, according to the master's purpose. Colin Luther Powell, KCB (Honorary MSC, (born April 5, 1937) is a retired General in the United States Army. And when Colin Powell dares to suggest something other than what the master wants to hear, he will be turned back out to pasture. And you don't hear much from those who live in the pasture. "

Belafonte used the quote to characterize both former and current United States Secretary of State Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice, both African-Americans. The United States Secretary of State (commonly abbreviated as SecState) is the head of the United States Department of State, concerned with Foreign affairs Condoleezza Rice (born November 14 1954 is the 66th United States African Americans or Black Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have origins in any of the black populations of Africa Powell and Rice both responded, with Powell calling the remarks "unfortunate"[20] and Rice saying "I don't need Harry Belafonte to tell me what it means to be black". [21] The comment was brought back up in an interview with Amy Goodman for Democracy Now! in 2006. Democracy Now! is a syndicated program of news analysis and opinion aired by more than 700 Radio and Television, satellite [22]

In January 2006, Belafonte led a delegation of activists including actor Danny Glover and activist/professor Cornel West meeting with President of Venezuela Hugo Chávez. January 2006: ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July Danny Lebern Glover (born July 22 1946 is an American Actor, Film director, and Political activist. Cornel Ronald West (born June 2, 1953) is a Scholar, Public intellectual, Philosopher, Critic, Pastor, ||-||} Wikipedia talkFeatured lists for an explanation of this and other inclusion tags below -->The President of Venezuela (Presidente Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías (ˈuɰo rafaˈel ˈtʃaβ̞es ˈfɾias (born July 28 1954 is the current President of Venezuela. In 2005, Chávez, an outspoken Bush critic, initiated a program to provide cheaper heating fuel for poor people in several areas of the United States. Belafonte supported this initiative. [23] During the meeting with Chávez, Belafonte was quoted as saying, "No matter what the greatest tyrant in the world, the greatest terrorist in the world, George W. Terrorism is the systematic use of terror especially as a means of coercion Bush says, we're here to tell you: Not hundreds, not thousands, but millions of the American people. . . support your revolution. "[24] Belafonte and Glover met again with Chavez in 2006. [25]

The comment ignited a great deal of controversy. Hillary Clinton refused to acknowledge his presence at an awards ceremony that featured both of them. Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton (born October 26 1947 is the junior United States Senator from [26] AARP, which had just named him one of their 10 Impact Award honorees 2006, released a statement following the remarks, saying, "AARP does not condone the manner and tone which he has chosen and finds his comments completely unacceptable". For the AppleTalk protocol developed by Apple Computer, see AppleTalk address resolution protocol (AARP [27]

On a Martin Luther King, Jr. Day speech at Duke University in 2006, Belafonte compared the American government to the 9/11 hijackers, saying, "What is the difference between that terrorist and other terrorists?"[28]

In response to criticism about his remarks, Belafonte asked, "What do you call Bush when the war he put us in to date has killed almost as many Americans as died on 9/11 and the number of Americans wounded in war is almost triple? [. Martin Luther King Jr Day is a United States Holiday marking the birthdate of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr Duke University is a private Research University located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. . . ] By most definitions Bush can be considered a terrorist. " When he was asked about his expectation of criticism for his remarks on the war in Iraq, Belafonte responded: "Bring it on. Dissent is central to any democracy". Dissent is a sentiment or philosophy of non-agreement or Opposition to an Idea (eg [29][30]

In another interview, Belafonte remarked that while his comments may have been "hasty", nevertheless he felt the Bush administration suffered from "arrogance wedded to ignorance," and its policies around the world were "morally bankrupt". [31]

In January 2006, in a speech to the annual meeting of the Arts Presenters Members Conference, Belafonte referred to "the new Gestapo of Homeland Security" saying "You can be arrested and have no right to counsel!"[32]

During the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day speech at the Duke University in January 2006, Belafonte said that if he could choose his epitaph, it would be, "Harry Belafonte, Patriot". January 2006: ← - January - February - March - April - May - June - July The ( contraction of ge heime Sta ats' po' lizei: "Secret State Police" was the official Secret police of Nazi Germany The term homeland security refers to the broad national effort by all levels of government to protect its territory from hazards both internal and external natural and man-made Right to counsel is nowadays generally regarded as a constituent of the Right to a fair trial, allowing for the defendant to be assisted by counsel (i Martin Luther King Jr Day is a United States Holiday marking the birthdate of the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr Duke University is a private Research University located in Durham, North Carolina, United States. [33]

Family

Belafonte and Marguerite Byrd were married from 1948 to 1957. They have two daughters, Adrienne and Shari. Shari Belafonte (born September 22 1954 is an American actress model writer and singer

Adrienne Biesemeyer is a child/family Licensed Professional Counselor in West Virginia. Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC is a Licensure for Mental health professionals The exact title varies by state but the other most frequently used title Adrienne has a BA in Art from West Virginia State College and a Master of Arts Degree in Community Counseling from the West Virginia Graduate College. In 1997 with her daughter Rachel Blue,[34] Adrienne founded the Anir Foundation[35] and the Anir Experience. Anir focuses on humanitarian work in Southern Africa.

Shari Belafonte is a photographer, model, singer and actress. Shari Belafonte (born September 22 1954 is an American actress model writer and singer A photographer is a person who takes a Photograph using a Camera. A model is a person who is posed or displayed for the purpose of Art, Fashion, or other products and Advertising. An actor, actress, player or thespian (see terminology) is a person who Acts in a Dramatic production and who works She is married to Sam Behrens. Sam Behrens (born July 24 1950 in Brooklyn New York) is an Actor most notably recognized from his role as Gregory Richards in Aaron Spelling

On March 8, 1957 Belafonte married Julie Robinson (former dancer with the Katherine Dunham Company). Events 1618 - Johannes Kepler discovers the third law of planetary motion. Year 1957 ( MCMLVII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays the 1957 Gregorian calendar) [36] They have two children, David and Gina Belafonte.

David is executive director of the family-held company Belafonte Enterprises Inc. [37] He married Malene in 2000 and their daughter Sarafina was born in 2003. [38]

Gina is a TV and film actress. [39] She is married to actor Scott McCray.

Belafonte's grandchildren include Adrienne's son, Brian,[40]and daughter, Rachel,[41] and David's daughter, Sarafina (b. 2003). [42] Gina & her husband have one child.

Discography

Harry Belafonte in John Murray Anderson's Almanac on Broadway, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1954
Harry Belafonte in John Murray Anderson's Almanac on Broadway, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1954

Filmography

Belafonte in John Murray Anderson's Almanac on Broadway, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1954
Belafonte in John Murray Anderson's Almanac on Broadway, photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1954

Television work

Stage work

References

  1. ^ http://www.vinyltimemachine.com/BA_BZ/belafonte_harry/artist_belafonte_harry.htm
  2. ^ http://www.oracamminiamoeretti.com/oracamminiamoeretti/node/365
  3. ^ Hardy, Phil; Dave Laing (1990). Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1972 ( MCMLXXII) was a Leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. For the Camp Lo album see Uptown Saturday Night (album Uptown Saturday Night is a 1974 Comedy Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. Year 1982 ( MCMLXXXII) was a Common year starting on Friday (link displays the 1982 Gregorian calendar) Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Year 1983 ( MCMLXXXIII) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1983 Gregorian calendar) Year 1984 ( MCMLXXXIV) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1984 Gregorian calendar) Year 1989 ( MCMLXXXIX) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays 1989 Gregorian calendar) The Player is a 1992 Film that tells the story of Griffin Mill ( Tim Robbins) a Hollywood studio executive who is being Year 1992 ( MCMXCII) was a Leap year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1992 Gregorian calendar) Prêt-à-Porter (English Ready to Wear) is a 1994 satirical Black comedy written directed and produced by Robert Altman Year 1994 ( MCMXCIV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display full 1994 Gregorian calendar) Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 White Man's Burden is a 1995 Dramatic film about racism in an alternate America where African Americans and Caucasian Americans Year 1995 ( MCMXCV) was a Common year starting on Sunday. Events of 1995 Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Kansas City is a 1996 Film, directed by Robert Altman, and featuring numerous jazz tracks Year 1996 ( MCMXCVI) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full 1996 Gregorian calendar) Year 1998 ( MCMXCVIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full 1998 Gregorian calendar) Fidel The Untold Story was a documentary released in 2001 by Estela Bravo Year 2001 ( MMI) was a Common year starting on Monday according to the Gregorian calendar. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. Year 2003 ( MMIII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Bobby is a Golden Globe Award -nominated historical Drama film written and directed by Emilio Estevez. Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Motherland (gez እናት ሀገር) is an independent documentary film directed and written by Owen 'Alik Shahadah. This article is about the year For the film see 2009 Lost Memories. Year 1949 ( MCMXLIX) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1950 ( MCML) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link will display the full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1968 ( MCMLXVIII) was a Leap year starting on Monday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1969 ( MCMLXIX) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1970 ( MCMLXX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link shows full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Free to Be… You and Me is a Record album and illustrated songbook for children first released in November 1972 and later in 1974 as a television special Year 1974 ( MCMLXXIV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the 1974 Gregorian calendar. The Muppet Show is an American Television program featuring a cast of Muppets which was produced by Jim Henson and his team from Year 1978 ( MCMLXXVIII) was a Common year starting on Sunday (link displays the 1978 Gregorian calendar) Year 1981 ( MCMLXXXI) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays the 1981 Year 1985 ( MCMLXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link displays 1985 Gregorian calendar) Year 1997 ( MCMXCVII) was a Common year starting on Wednesday (link will display full 1997 Gregorian calendar Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Tanner on Tanner is a 2004 comedy and the sequel series to the 1988 Robert Altman directed and Garry Trudeau written Miniseries about "MMIV" redirects here For the Modest Mouse album see " Baron von Bullshit Rides Again " Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. When the Levees Broke A Requiem in Four Acts is a 2006 Documentary film directed by Spike Lee about the devastation of New Orleans Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1953 ( MCMLIII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1954 ( MCMLIV) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1954 Gregorian calendar) Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Year 1987 ( MCMLXXXVII) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link displays 1987 Gregorian calendar) The Faber Companion to Twentieth Century Music. Faber, pp. 54. ISBN 0571168485.  
  4. ^ Harry Belafonte Biography (1927-)
  5. ^ The African American Registry http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/2442/Harry_Belafonte_an_entertainer_of_truth
  6. ^ "Harry Belafonte," "Calypso: A World Music" University of Southern Florida http://www.calypsoworld.org/noflash/artists-04.htm
  7. ^ Arenson, Karen W. "Commencements; Belafonte Lauds Diversity Of Baruch College Class", The New York Times, June 2, 2000. Events 455 - The Vandals enter Rome, and plunder the city for two weeks 2000 ( MM) was a Leap year that started on Saturday of the Common Era, in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. Accessed April 16, 2008. Events 1178 BC - A Solar eclipse may have marked the return of Odysseus, legendary King of Ithaca, to his kingdom 2008 ( MMVIII) is the current year in accordance with the Gregorian calendar, a Leap year that started on Tuesday of the Common "(He said that he had not gotten past the first year at George Washington High School, and that the only college degrees he had were honorary ones. )"
  8. ^ The African American Registry http://www.aaregistry.com/african_american_history/2442/Harry_Belafonte_an_entertainer_of_truth
  9. ^ Harry Belafonte and Friends
  10. ^ [1]
  11. ^ «Besser als es jetzt ist, kann es nicht werden»
  12. ^ Bellefonte speech about Paul Robeson
  13. ^ Harry Belafonte and prostate cancer
  14. ^ Impact Awards 2006 Honorees
  15. ^ FrontPage Magazine
  16. ^ Baker, Geoffrey. 2005. "Hip hop Revolucion! Nationalizing Rap n Cuba. " Ethnomusicology, 49, no. 3: 368-402
  17. ^ [2]
  18. ^ African Activist Archive Project
  19. ^ Jennings Hypes Saudi Opposition to Iraq War - 10/10/2002 - Media Research Center CyberAlert
  20. ^ CNN.com - Belafonte won't back down from Powell slave reference - Oct. 14, 2002
  21. ^ FOXNews.com - Powell, Rice Accused of Toeing the Line - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum
  22. ^ Democracy Now! | Harry Belafonte on Bush, Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and Having His Conversations with Martin Luther King Wiretapped by the FBI
  23. ^ Taipei Times - archives
  24. ^ Belafonte calls Bush ‘greatest terrorist’ - Americas - MSNBC.com
  25. ^ FOXNews.com - Chavez Repeats 'Devil' Comment at Harlem Event - International News | News of the World | Middle East News | Europe News
  26. ^ [3]
  27. ^ AARP Reacts to Comments by Harry Belafonte
  28. ^ Democracy Now! | Harry Belafonte on Bush, Iraq, Hurricane Katrina and Having His Conversations with Martin Luther King Wiretapped by the FBI
  29. ^ The Daily Beacon
  30. ^ The Daily Beacon
  31. ^ POLITICS-US: Belafonte on Thinking Outside the Ballot Box
  32. ^ FOXNews.com - Belafonte Blasts 'Gestapo' Security - Politics | Republican Party | Democratic Party | Political Spectrum
  33. ^ Harry Belafonte Speaks at Duke
  34. ^ Anir Experience
  35. ^ Anir Experience
  36. ^ Science Blog - UCLA News
  37. ^ Science Blog - UCLA News
  38. ^ David Belafonte - Biography
  39. ^ Science Blog - UCLA News
  40. ^ Harry Belafonte
  41. ^ Anir Experience
  42. ^ David Belafonte - Biography

External links

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