Photo: David Shankbone / CC BY 3.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Harry Belafonte is one of those names that makes me straighten up. He carried calypso to the world, and Calypso (1956) became the first million-selling album by a solo artist, with Day-O still lodged in the collective ear. But the music is only half the story. At the peak of his fame he poured that capital into the civil rights movement, using stardom for peace and equality when it cost him to do so. Tony, Emmy, Kennedy Center Honors, a National Medal of Arts, and a life that ran to 96 without his convictions bending. Talent plus conscience, sustained over a lifetime, is what I think a legend actually is.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Harry Belafonte
- Name (Japanese)
- ハリー・ベラフォンテ
- Reading
- はりー・べらふぉんて
- Born
- March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Pisces / Rabbit
- Origin
- Seraing, Province of Liege, Belgium
- Height
- 2 cm
- Occupation
- singer / entertainer / civil rights advocate / peace activist / recording artist
2. Background
Awards & achievements
- 1954 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
- 1960 Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program
- 1979 Paul Robeson Award
- 1989 Kennedy Center Honors
- 1994 National Medal of Arts
- 1998 Marian Anderson Award
- Library of Congress Living Legend
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | Calypso | — | |
| Notable work | Banana Boat (Day-O) | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Harry Belafonte born?
March 1, 1927 – April 25, 2023.
Where is Harry Belafonte from?
Harry Belafonte is from Seraing, Province of Liege, Belgium.
What does Harry Belafonte do?
Harry Belafonte works as singer, entertainer, civil rights advocate, peace activist, recording artist.
How tall is Harry Belafonte?
Harry Belafonte is 2 cm.
What is Harry Belafonte known for?
Notable works include Calypso, Banana Boat (Day-O).
Singer — see all → · Entertainer — see all → · More people from Belgium →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.