“The only way that we could speak to the pain and the anguish of our experiences was often through how we codified our stories in the songs that we sang. And when I sing the”
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Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte was an American singer, actor, and civil rights activist who popularized calypso music with international audiences in the 1950s and 1960s. Belafonte's career breakthrough album Calypso (1956) was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.
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entertainment · American singer and actor (1927–2023) · singer · entertainer · civil rights advocate · peace activist · recording artist · songwriter · television actor · film producer · executive producer · dancer · also Harry Belafonte, Harold George Belafonte Jr., Belafonte, Harold George Bellanfanti Jr., Harry Bellanfanti Jr., Harold George Belafonte
Born 1 March 1927 · Died 25 April 2023 · Q214959
168 published statements · 0 followers
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And nobody had survival skills and greater cunning than did my mother. She was tenacious about her dignity not being crushed. And one day she said to me — she was talking about coming back from the day when she couldn
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2026· 4 entries
“And nobody had survival skills and greater cunning than did my mother. She was tenacious about her dignity not being crushed. And one day she said to me — she was talking about coming back from the day when she couldn”
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“You walked in and one of us saw the first half. We”
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“s tension, he needed to be in the presence of a man like Smith to understand Black people”
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2023· 6 entries
Died 2023-04-25.
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“I work for the United Nations. I go to places where enormous upheaval and pain and anguish exist. And a lot of it exists based upon American policy. Whom we support, whom we support as heads of state, what countries we've helped to overthrow, what leaders we've helped to diminish because they did not fit the mold we think they should fit, no matter how ill advised that thought may be.”
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“Each and every one of you has the power, the will and the capacity to make a difference in the world in which you live in. ... You should go through life knowing, "I am somebody.”
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“We still have wars and we still have poverty — as long as these things exist, there's always going to be something to do. But that cannot distract from the fact that we're on the way.”
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“The sham engineers of the music industry, who steer the wheels of public opinion, are driving the good features of calypso into the ground. I shudder to think what these greedy men will eventually do to this true art form.”
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“When I was 40 and looking at 60, it seemed like a thousand miles away. But 62 feels like a week and a half away from 80. I must now get on with those things I always talked about doing but put off.”
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2022· 1 entry
Awarded Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (2022).
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2017· 3 entries
Won Four Freedoms Award – Freedom Medal (2017).
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The day after the inauguration of Donald Trump as president
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Belafonte released When Colors Come Together, an anthology of some of his earlier recordings, produced by his son David, who wrote lyrics for an updated version of "Island in the Sun", arranged by longtime Belafonte musi
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2016· 1 entry
Belafonte endorsed Vermont U
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2014· 2 entries
Awarded Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award (2014).
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Received the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award at the academy's 6th Annual Governors Awards and in 2022 was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category
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2013· 4 entries
Awarded Ambassador of Conscience Award (2013).
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Belafonte received the NAACP's Spingarn Medal, and in the televised ceremony, he counted Constance L
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Belafonte was the keynote speaker and honoree for the MLK Celebration Series at the Rhode Island School of Design
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Belafonte was named a grand marshal of the New York City Pride Parade alongside Edie Windsor and Earl Fowlkes
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2012· 2 entries
In an interview with Al Sharpton on MSNBC, Belafonte expressed dismay that many political leaders in the United States continue to oppose Obama's policies even after his reelection: "The only thing left for Barack Obama
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Won Spingarn Medal (2012).
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2011· 2 entries
Belafonte's memoir My Song was published by Knopf Books
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Belafonte commented on the Obama administration and the role that popular opinion played in shaping its policies
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2007· 1 entry
Belafonte represented UNICEF on Norwegian television to support the annual telethon (TV Aksjonen) and helped raise a world record of $10 per Norwegian citizen
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2006· 3 entries
Belafonte received the BET Humanitarian Award at the 2006 BET Awards
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Belafonte compared the American government to the hijackers of the September 11 attacks, saying: "What is the difference between that terrorist and other terrorists
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Belafonte appeared in Bobby, Emilio Estevez's ensemble drama about the assassination of Robert F
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2005· 1 entry
Chávez, an outspoken Bush critic, initiated a program to provide cheaper heating oil for poor people in several areas of the United States
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2004· 2 entries
Belafonte traveled to Kenya to stress the importance of educating children in the region
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Was awarded the Domestic Human Rights Award in San Francisco by Global Exchange
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2003· 1 entry
“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.'.”
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2002· 3 entries
Belafonte referred to Malcolm X
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Awarded Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award (2002).
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When he began making a series of comments about President George W
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2001· 3 entries
And was interviewed by Katie Couric just minutes before the first plane hit the World Trade Center
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Released album “The Art of a Legend”.
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Belafonte visited South Africa to support the campaign against HIV/AIDS
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2000· 5 entries
Awarded Library of Congress Living Legend (2000).
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Awarded Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award (2000).
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Released album “Harry Belafonte Greatest Hits”.
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Released album “Matilda - Best”.
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Released album “The Best of Harry Belafonte”.
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1999· 1 entry
Belafonte met with representatives of the rap community immediately before meeting with Castro
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1998· 3 entries
Awarded Marian Anderson Award (1998).
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Released album “The Very Best of Harry Belafonte”.
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Released album “Folk Standards”.
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1997· 2 entries
Released album “Folk Songs From the World”.
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Released album “The Masters”.
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1996· 4 entries
Released album “Island in the Sun”.
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Released album “24 Karat Gold”.
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Belafonte was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was treated for the disease
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Released album “Belafonte’s Best”.
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1995· 6 entries
Released album “2 Gether on 1: Jump Up Calypso / The Midnight Special”.
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Released album “Folk Songs From the World With Harry Belafonte and Miriam Makeba-Odetta”.
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Released album “The Hit Collection”.
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Released album “Calypso Night”.
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Released album “Enchanted Melodies”.
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Released album “Harry Belaflnte, 16 Most Requested Songs”.
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1994· 6 entries
Won National Medal of Arts (1994).
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Released album “Feel the Warm”.
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Released album “Greatest Hits”.
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And he won a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000
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Embarked on a mission to Rwanda and launched a media campaign to raise awareness of the needs of Rwandan children
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Released album “Harry Belafonte: His Greatest Hits and Finest Performances”.
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1993· 7 entries
Released album “Golden Records, Volume 1”.
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Released album “Gold: 20 Super Hits”.
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Released album “Gold”.
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Released album “24 x Harry Belafonte”.
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As part of a complete Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour syndication package
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Released album “Simply the Best”.
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Released album “The Wonderful World Of Harry Belafonte”.
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1992· 4 entries
Released album “A Legendary Performer”.
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Released album “Day O & Other Hits”.
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Released album “My Greatest Songs”.
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Released album “"Calypso" From Jamaica”.
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1991· 2 entries
Released album “Banana Boat (Day-o)”.
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Released album “The ★ Collection”.
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1990· 3 entries
Awarded honorary degree from Spelman College (1990).
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Released album “A Man and His Music”.
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Released album “Banana Boat Song”.
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1989· 5 entries
Awarded Kennedy Center Honors (1989).
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Released album “Belafonte '89”.
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Released album “Harry Belafonte”.
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Released album “Jamaica Farewell”.
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Released album “All Time Hits, Volume 3”.
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1988· 5 entries
Released album “Try to Remember”.
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Released album “The Collection”.
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Released album “All Time Greatest Hits, Volume 2”.
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Released album “Paradise in Gazankulu”.
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Which contained ten protest songs against the South African Apartheid policy, and was his last studio album
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1987· 4 entries
Career landmark: UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador (1987–2023).
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Released album “Banana Boat & Other Famous Folk Songs”.
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Was the master of ceremonies at a reception honoring African National Congress President Oliver Tambo at Roosevelt House, Hunter College, in New York City
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Received an appointment to UNICEF as a goodwill ambassador
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1986· 1 entry
The American Music Awards named "We Are the World" Song of the Year and honored Belafonte with the Award of Appreciation
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1985· 1 entry
Belafonte helped organize the Grammy Award-winning song "We Are the World", a multi-artist effort to raise funds for Africa
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1984· 3 entries
Band Aid, a group of British and Irish artists, released "Do They Know It's Christmas
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Released album “The Harry Belafonte Collection: 20 Golden Greats”.
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Belafonte produced and scored the musical film Beat Street, dealing with the rise of hip-hop culture
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1982· 1 entry
Released album “15 Greatest Hits”.
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1981· 4 entries
Released album “Day-O Banana Boat”.
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Released album “Loving You Is Where I Belong”.
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Released album “King of Calypso”.
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Released album “Rare Belafonte”.
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1979· 1 entry
Awarded Paul Robeson Award (1979).
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1978· 2 entries
Released album “All Time Greatest Hits, Volume 1”.
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Appeared as a guest star on an episode of The Muppet Show, during which he performed his signature song "Day-O"
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1977· 3 entries
Released album “Turn the World Around”.
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Columbia Records released the album Turn the World Around, with a strong focus on world music
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Released album “Blues & Worksongs”.
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1976· 1 entry
Released album “The King of Calypso”.
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1975· 2 entries
Released album “Pure Gold”.
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Released album “Harry Belafonte & Miriam Makeba”.
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1974· 1 entry
Released album “Golden Records, Vol. 2”.
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1973· 1 entry
Released album “Play Me”.
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1971· 2 entries
Released album “The Warm Touch”.
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Released album “Calypso Carnival”.
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1970· 2 entries
Released album “This Is Harry Belafonte”.
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Released album “Belafonte - By Request”.
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1969· 1 entry
Released album “Homeward Bound”.
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1968· 3 entries
Performing a controversial Mardi Gras number intercut with footage from the 1968 Democratic National Convention riots
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Belafonte appeared on a Petula Clark primetime television special on NBC
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Released album “Sings of Love”.
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1967· 2 entries
Belafonte was the first non-classical artist to perform at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Upstate New York, soon to be followed by concerts there by the Doors, the 5th Dimension, the Who, and Janis Joplin
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Released album “Belafonte on Campus”.
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1966· 2 entries
Released album “Calypso in Brass”.
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Released album “In My Quiet Room”.
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1965· 2 entries
Released album “An Evening With Belafonte / Mouskouri”.
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Released album “An Evening With Belafonte/Makeba”.
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1964· 1 entry
Released album “Ballads, Blues and Boasters”.
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1963· 2 entries
Backed King in conversations with Robert F
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Released album “Streets I Have Walked”.
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1962· 3 entries
Released album “To Wish You a Merry Christmas”.
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Released album “The Many Moods of Belafonte”.
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Released album “The Midnight Special”.
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1961· 3 entries
Which included Ella Fitzgerald and Mahalia Jackson, among others
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Released album “Harry Belafonte Sings Five Early Songs / Calypso In The Sun”.
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Released album “Jump Up Calypso”.
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1960· 4 entries
Awarded Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (1960).
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Released album “Folk Songs and Calypso”.
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Released album “Swing Dat Hammer”.
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Released album “My Lord What a Mornin’”.
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1959· 5 entries
Released album “Love Is a Gentle Thing”.
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Belafonte starred in and produced (through his company HarBel Productions) Robert Wise's Odds Against Tomorrow, in which Belafonte plays a bank robber uncomfortably teamed with a racist partner (Robert Ryan)
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Belafonte starred in Tonight With Belafonte, a nationally televised special that featured Odetta, who sang "Water Boy" and performed a duet with Belafonte of "There's a Hole in My Bucket" that hit the national charts in
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Released album “Porgy and Bess”.
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And 1960, enjoyed critical and commercial success
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1958· 1 entry
Released album “Belafonte Sings the Blues”.
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1957· 4 entries
Released album “The Versatile Mr. Belafonte”.
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Belafonte married his second wife Julie Robinson (1928–2024), a dancer with the Katherine Dunham Company who was of Jewish descent
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Released album “An Evening With Belafonte”.
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Released album “Belafonte Sings of the Caribbean”.
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1956· 3 entries
Released album “Calypso”.
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Released album “Belafonte”.
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Released album “The Best of Belafonte”.
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1955· 2 entries
Began traveling to Northern cities to spread awareness and acquire donations for those struggling with social segregation and oppression in the South
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In which he sings humorously about misbehaving and disrespectful children
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1954· 4 entries
Awarded Theatre World Award (1954).
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Awarded Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (1954).
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“s political beliefs were greatly inspired by the singer, actor, and civil rights activist Paul Robeson, who mentored him. Robeson opposed not only racial prejudice in the United States but also western colonialism in Africa. Belafonte refused to perform in the American South from 1954 until 1961. Belafonte gave the keynote address at the ACLU of Northern California”
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Released album ““Mark Twain” and Other Folk Favorites”.
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1953· 2 entries
Belafonte was financially able to move from Washington Heights, Manhattan, "into a white neighborhood in East Elmhurst, Queens
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Signed a contract with RCA Victor, recording exclusively for the label until 1974
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1949· 1 entry
But quickly developed a keen interest in folk music, learning material through the Library of Congress' American folk songs archives
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1927· 2 entries
Born 1927-03-01.
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At Lying-in Hospital in Harlem, New York City, the son of Jamaican-born parents Harold George Bellanfanti Sr
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