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Harry Belafonte Speaker Biography
The consummate entertainer, Harry Belafonte is a world-renowned recording artist, Broadway, movie and television star and globally respected human rights activist. Belafonte's feats include his first album Calypso, the record breaking film Island In the Sun and his show, Tonight with Belafonte. The winner of countless awards for his work as an artist and humanitarian, he continues to fight against injustice throughout the world. He will soon be seen in the upcoming films White Man's Burden and Kansas City.
Born in Harlem in 1927, Harry Belafonte is an icon of American popular music. As a young boy, he lived in Jamaica, returning to New York City for high school. At age 17, he joined the United States Navy for a two-year stint. He then settled in New York, where he became involved in the American Negro Theatre and the Dramatic Workshop, where his classmates included Marlon Brando and Tony Curtis. Mr. Belafonte began to sing in New York nightclubs, subsequently opening a restaurant where customers enjoyed folk song performances. With guitarist Millard Thomas, he debuted at the Village Vanguard - the performances that led to his first recording contract with RCA Victor and two film appearances: Bright Road and Carmen Jones. He became a full-fledged Broadway in 1955 with Three for Tonight his RCA Victor recording Calypso was the first pop album to sell 1 million copies his albums Jamaica Farewell (1956) and Banana Boat (1957) were popular sensations. His clear diction, pure voice and strikingly handsome features made him a bona-fide superstar. He made his European debut in 1958, in London, Paris, Berlin, Stockholm, Copenhagen and Brussels. Mr. Belafonte has starred in the films Buck and the Preacher (1972) and Uptown Saturday Night (1974).
He has been honored many times by such diversified groups as the American Jewish Congress, the NAACP, the Committee for United Negro Relief, the City of Hope, Fight for Sight, The Albert Einstein Award from Yeshiva, the Boy Scouts of America and the Peace Corps.
- Celebrity
- Diversity
- Entertainment
- Motivation
