Harry belafonte singer biography paper
The success of Carmen Jones in made Belafonte a star, and soon, he became a music sensation. Belafonte was the first Black person to win an Emmy, for Revlon Revue: Tonight with Belafonte and the first Black television producer. Inhe teamed up with singer Lena Horne for a one-hour TV special that showcased their talents. Belafonte continued to release albums into the s, though his output slowed by the middle of the decade.
Always outspoken, Belafonte found inspiration for his activism from such figures as singer Paul Robeson and scholar and activist W. Du Bois. After he met civil rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. He provided financial backing for the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and participated in numerous rallies and protests. During the mids, Belafonte also began supporting new African artists.
He helped introduce her to international audiences and called attention to life under apartheid in South Africa. In the s, Belafonte led an effort to help people in Africa. He came up with the idea of recording a song with other celebrities, which would be sold to raise funds to provide famine relief in Ethiopia. The song was released inraising millions of dollars and becoming an international hit.
Over the years, Belafonte supported many other causes as well. Belafonte sometimes landed in hot water for his candidly expressed opinions. But My Song is far more than the history of a movement.
Harry belafonte singer biography paper: Harry Belafonte, who stormed
It is a very personal look at the people in that movement and the world in which Belafonte has long moved. As both an artist and an activist, Belafonte has touched countless lives. With My Song, he has found yet another way to entertain and inspire us. It is an electrifying memoir from a remarkable man. He died in It contained the hit song, "Day-O Banana Boat Song ," which Belafonte would be closely associated with for the rest of his career.
Belafonte has appeared in and produced numerous television series and specials. Throughout the s, Belafonte continued to record albums in various styles, such as pop, blues, gospel, folk, and show tunes. After releasing his final calypso album inBelafonte focused mainly on performing and toured internationally. He released five more albums in the s and s, including Turn the World Aroundwhose title track he performed on The Muppet Show in In addition to music and acting, Belafonte has been an advocate for humanitarian and political causes throughout his life.
His political views were greatly influenced by his mentor, Paul Robeson, and led to Belafonte being blacklisted in Hollywood in A decade later, he appeared in a campaign ad for John F. Military Service: U. Navy, — Career: Became a member of the American Negro Theater in New York; appeared regularly on the CBS black variety show Sugar Hill Times; first appeared on Broadway, ; film debut in Bright Road; recording artist with RCA, —73; popularized calypso music with the release of his album Calypso; formed his own television production company, ; first African American to star in a television special, ; president, Belafonte Enterprises Inc.
Address: Belafonte Enterprises Inc. King: A Filmed Record. Null, Gary. Gates, Jr. Harry Belafonteborn in Harlem to a Jamaican mother and a father from Martinique, is known as the "consummate entertainer," successful in the realms of theater, motion picturesand the recording industry. A human rights activist, Belafonte has used his celebrity to cast a spotlight on humanitarian causes around the world, including the Civil Rights struggle of African Americansthe fight against apartheid in South Africaand UNICEF.
In motion pictures he is probably best known for his acting talents, which, combined with his physique, good looks, and voice, made him Hollywood's first African American male sex symbol. Belafonte's first appeared in Bright Road alongside Dorothy Dandridge. He starred with her again the next year in Carmen Jonesan all-black version of George Bizet's opera, Carmen.
Harry belafonte singer biography paper: Belafonte's papers reveal the business aspects
Belafonte's popularity with female audiences crossed color lines, and Hollywood exploited it by frequently casting him in films that featured interracial romance, such as the controversial Island in the Sun. Because such stereotyping limited his acting possibilities, Belafonte turned to the recording industry, singing calypso music, a popular folk style in the Carribean.
His recordings of such songs as "Matilda" and what would become his signature song, "Banana Boat Song," resulted in an American obsession with the music form. His album Calypso became the first solo album to sell over a million copies. In Belafonte starred in a television special, becoming the first African American to do so. He did not work in motion pictures during the decade, dedicating his energies to the Civil Rights Movement.
During the African American struggle for social, political, and economic equality, Belafonte helped raise funds for the Montogomery Bus Boycott, the Freedom Riders and voter registration drives, and helped establish the Southern Free Theater in Mississippi. Memorial Fund. He also worked as an unofficial liason between the Kennedy Administration and leaders of the Movement.
Inhe was appointed to the advisory committee of the Peace Corps. Belafonte returned to motion pictures during the s, appearing in such films as Buck and the Preacher and Uptown Saturday Night with comedian Bill Cosby. During this period, he continued his singing career, recording albums and performing, often for the benefit of numerous charities.
In he became a film producer, bringing to the screen one of the first hip-hop inspired feature films, Beat Street. Belafonte continued his multifaceted career in the s and s. He received numerous awards for his humanitarian efforts. In the s Belafonte appeared regularly in the films of Robert Altman. As Seldom Seen he was a menacing gangster figure lurking in the background of the s Kansas City jazz scene.
Gateward, Frances " Belafonte, Harry. Gateward, Frances "Belafonte, Harry. Belafonte, Harry — gale. Learn more about citation styles Citation styles Encyclopedia. Belafonte, Harry gale. Midnight SpecialRCA, Calypso in BrassRCA, Belafonte on CampusRCA, Homeward BoundRCA, Belafonte by RequestRCA, Play MeRCA, Turn the World AroundColumbia Records, Paradise in GazankuluEMI, Pure GoldRCA.
Sources Chicago TribuneJuly 26, EbonySeptember Ottawa CitizenJanuary 13, Paul Masson Summer SeriesJune Sun-Times ChicagoJuly 27, Additional information obtained from a Belafonte Enterprises Inc. Harry Belafonte — Singer, actor, activist It has been said that in the life and work of entertainer Harry Belafontethe worlds of music and morality do not collide, but balance harmoniously.
Addresses: Office— Belafonte Enterprises Inc. Focused Political Activism on International Issues In recent years, Belafonte has used his celebrity to draw attention to civil rights issues and injustices on a global scale, particularly in respect to children suffering from malnutrition and sickness. Belafonte includes "Matilda"RCA, Homeward Bound, RCA, Paradise in Gazankulu, EMI, Belafonte '89, EMI, Belafonte '89 abridged versionEMI, Periodicals Chicago Sun-Times, July 27, Chicago Tribune, July 26, Ebony, September Fun and Gaming, March 1, New York Times, March 21, Ottawa Citizen, January 13, Paul Masson Summer Series, June Other Additional information harried belafonte singer biography paper from a Belafonte Enterprises Inc.
Harry Belafonte gale. Harry Belafonte Harry Belafonte borntriumphed over a difficult childhood and racial barriers, as an African American growing up in the United States. Further Reading Shaw, Arnold. Ebony, November More From encyclopedia. About this article Harry Belafonte All Sources. Updated Aug 24 About encyclopedia.
Harry belafonte singer biography paper: American singer, actor, producer, and
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