Belafonte, Harry

Belafonte, Harry
orig. Harold George Belafonte, Jr.

born March 1, 1927, New York, N.Y., U.S.

U.S. singer, actor, and producer.

He was born to immigrants from Martinique and Jamaica, and he lived with his mother in Jamaica from 1935 to 1940. In the early 1950s he initiated a fad for calypso music with songs such as "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)" and "Jamaica Farewell." He starred in the films Carmen Jones (1954) and Island in the Sun (1957) and later became the first black television producer. In the 1960s and '70s he was a prominent civil-rights activist. From the 1970s onward his singing career was a secondary occupation, and he acted in films such as Uptown Saturday Night (1974) and Kansas City (1996).

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▪ American singer, actor, and activist
byname of  Harold George Belafonte, Jr.  
born March 1, 1927, New York, N.Y., U.S.
 
 American singer, who was a key figure in the 1950s popularity of folk music, and an actor and film producer as well.

      Belafonte's parents were emigrants from the Caribbean islands of Martinique and Jamaica, and he lived with his mother during her 1935–40 return to Jamaica. He left high school to serve in the U.S. Navy in the mid-1940s; after returning to New York City he studied drama at Erwin Piscator's Dramatic Workshop, where a singing role led to night-club engagements and a recording contract as a pop singer. In 1950 he became a folksinger, learning songs at the Library of Congress' American folk-song archives. He sang West Indian folk songs as well, in nightclubs and theatres; his handsome appearance added to his appeal as a frequent performer on television variety programs. With hit recordings such as “Day-O (Banana Boat Song)” and “Jamaica Farewell,” he initiated a fad for calypso music; in the mid-1950s his Harry Belafonte and Mark Twain and Other Folk Favorites were the first of his series of hit folk-song albums.

      Belafonte was the male lead (but did not sing) in the film musical Carmen Jones (1954), a success that led to a starring role in the film Island in the Sun (1957). He also produced the film Odds Against Tomorrow (1959), in which he acted, and in the 1960s became the first African-American television producer. He helped introduce South African singer Miriam Makeba and Greek singer Nana Mouskouri to American audiences. A civil-rights activist, he was also active in charitable work. In the 1970s, when his singing career was a secondary occupation, he was featured in the films Buck and the Preacher (1972) and Uptown Saturday Night (1974).

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Belafonte, Harry — orig. Harold George Belafonte, Jr. (n. 1 mar. 1927, Nueva York, N.Y., EE.UU.). Cantante, actor y productor estadounidense. Nació en una familia de inmigrantes de Martinica y Jamaica, y vivió con su madre en Jamaica en 1935–40. A comienzos de la… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Harry Belafonte — auf der Tribeca Film Festival 2011 Harry Belafonte (* 1. März 1927 als Harold George Belafonete, Jr. in Harlem, New York) ist ein US amerikanischer Sänger, Schauspieler und Entertainer. In letzter Zeit is …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Harry — Harry, Myriam * * * (as used in expressions) Belafonte, Harry Bertoia, Harry Blackmun, Harry Bridges, Harry Callahan, Harry (Morey) Coase, Ronald (Harry) Cohn, Harry Crick, Francis (Harry Compton) Harry Lillis Crosby Haldeman, H(arry) R(obbins)… …   Enciclopedia Universal

  • Harry Belafonte — Harold George Belafonte, Jr. Belafonte en 2011 Datos generales Nombre real Harold George Belafonte, Jr …   Wikipedia Español

  • harry — /har ee/, v., harried, harrying. v.t. 1. to harass, annoy, or prove a nuisance to by or as if by repeated attacks; worry: He was harried by constant doubts. 2. to ravage, as in war; devastate: The troops harried the countryside. v.i. 3. to make… …   Universalium

  • Harry — /har ee/, n. a male given name, form of Harold or Henry. * * * (as used in expressions) Belafonte Harry Bertoia Harry Blackmun Harry Bridges Harry Callahan Harry Morey Coase Ronald Harry Cohn Harry Crick Francis Harry Compton Harry Lillis Crosby… …   Universalium

  • Harry Belafonte — (2011) Harold George Belafonte Jr., nom originel Belafonete, surnommé Harry Belafonte, né le 1er mars 1927 à Harlem dans la ville de New York, est un chanteur et acteur américain …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Belafonte — ist der Name folgender Personen: Harry Belafonte (* 1927), US amerikanischer Sänger, Schauspieler, Entertainer und Bürgerrechtler Shari Belafonte (* 1954), US amerikanische Schauspielerin, Tochter von Harry Belafonte Diese Seite ist eine …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Harry — es un nombre masculino, forma medieval del nombre Henry. En tiempos modernos se usa como diminutivo de Henry o Harold[1] y puede referirse a: Deborah Harry, cantante y actriz estadounidense. Grupo Blondie. Harry Abend, escultor polaco. Harry… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Belafonte —   [belə fɔntɪ], Harry, amerikanischer Sänger und Schauspieler jamaikanischer Herkunft, * New York 1. 3. 1927; begann in den 40er Jahren als Schauspieler (Schüler von E. Piscator); trat 1956/57 als Sänger mit an der Volksmusik der Karibik… …   Universal-Lexikon

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