Harry Belafonte

Harold George Belafonte Jr. called Harry Belafonte , born on March 1st 1927 with Harlem in the town of New York, is a singer and actor (American).

Biography

His/her parents are originating in the the Caribbean. His/her father, Harold George Belafonte Sr., originating in the Martinique, was cook in the British Navy. His/her mother, Malvine Belafonte, originating in Jamaica, worked as a dressmaker and controlling.

Born on March 1st, 1927 in Harlem, black district of New York, Harold George (known as Harry) Belafonte jr. passed its earliest youth and its schooling to Jamaica. The native island of his/her mother, bathing there in the folklore caribéen, genuine cultural tank, where it often drew the original exotic inspiration characterizing its artistic career.

Being released of its military obligations in U.S.Navy, Harry Belafonte went back to New York where he exerted various odd jobs, (gatekeeper associated in a clothes shop…). But it is only by penetrating the entertainment world, when one offered two places for the American Black Theater to him where " was played; Home is the Hunter " that he discovered his vocation of actor.

He integrated a course of dramatic art, `the Dramatic Workshop off the School off Social Research " what directed Erwin Piscator, the famous German realizer. He made there his classes in company of Marlon Brando, Tony Curtis to quote only these two there… anchoring itself definitively to the artistic world.

Monty Kaye, the famous promoter of Royal Roost, having often appreciated its talents of singer, helped it when its purse of state expired by engaging it in its famous club from jazz as intermittent singer. The public expressed a benevolent interest to him, even if it were more familiar with the usual orchestras, those of Charlie Parker, Miles Davis, max Roach and Tommy Potter.

A succession of services in various night clubs led it to Broadway where its first musical comedy " John Murray Anderson' S almanac". created sensation, and for this first service on Broadway, the young singer obtained Tony Award for his performance.

A few months later, it signed for what was to be a length and profitable contract with R.C.A.Victor. In 1955, its third Album " Calypso" was the first Album has to reach the million sold specimens!

Parallel to its artistic career, Harry Belafonte devoted its life to several humane and peaceful causes. In 1960, J.F. Kennedy, then president of the U.S.A appointed it cultural Consultant in the " Body for Paix". He was the first member of the Show business to exert this function, and devoted itself to it during five years.

But it is in the fight for the civic equal rights to the United States that it is invested most vigorously. Its enthusiastic and tough search for a levelling and equitable justice was never discouraged.

With beginning of the year 50, Harry Belafonte became acquainted with young Doctor Martin Luther King, at the time of the historical passage of this one in New York. As of this day, until the assassination of the black leader, Harry and Martin developed faithful and deep friendship, which remained one of the most invaluable experiments of the life of Harry Belafonte.

In the cinematographic career of Harry Belafonte one can notice excellent films whose bottom translates sometimes its concerns concerning the equality between all the human beings, as in bright road, Odds Against Tomorrow or more recently White Man' S Burden, with in this last a point of humor shifted, so necessary to make pass this kind of message.

In 1985, deeply touched and disturbed by the war and the famine, cruel events which overpowered part of the Africa, and influenced by completed work by Mohammed Amin and Bob Geldorf, Harry Belafonte contributed to launching the caritative countryside " We are the World".

In 1987 It accepted the post of ambassador of UNICEF, and was thus second American after Danny Kaye to devote itself to the responsibility of help the distress of the children of the world, involving other personalities of the spectacle there.

During these last years, Harry Belafonte continued its engagement in all the causes devoted to the human rights, focusing its action in particular on the United States and South Africa. The friendly relation which it maintains with Nelson Mandela, gave him satisfaction to receive the South-African leader at the time of his memorable visit in States.

Harry Belafonte always lives in New York, with his Julie wife, of which it has two large children. Of a preceding marriage, it has also two girls of which one is a known actress and the other a considered therapeutist, specialized in the treatment of the mental diseases of the young children.

Harry Belafonte is also a grandfather filled thanks to Rachel and Brian, his/her two small children.

Discography

Mark Twain (1954)
Belafonte (1956)
Calypso (1956)
An Evening With Belafonte (1956)
Belafonte Sings off the Caribbean (1957)
To Wish You has Merry Christmas (1958)
Love Has Gentle Thing (1959)
Porgy and Bess (1959)
Belafonte At Carnegie Hall (1959)
My Lord What has Mornin' (1960) off
Belafonte Sings the Blues (1960)
Swing Dat Hammer (1960)
Belafonte Returns to Carnegie Hall (1960)
Jump Up Calypso (1961)
Midnight Special (1962)
The Many Moods Belafonte (1962)
Streets I Cuts Walked (1963)
Belafonte At the Greek Theater (1963)
Blues, Ballads, and Boasters (1964)
Belafonte/Makeba (1965)
An Evening with Belafonte/Mouskouri (1966)
In My Quiet Room (1966)
Calypso in Arm (1966)
Belafonte one Campus (1967)
Harry Belafonte Sings off Coils (1968)
Homeward Bound (1970)
By Request (1970)
This Is Harry Belafonte ( 1970)
Warm Touch (1971)
Calypso Carnival (1971)
Belafonte Live (1972)
Play Me (1973)
Harry (1973)
Abraham, Martin and John (1974)
Paradise in Gazankulu (1988)
Belafonte '89 (1989)
Year Evening With Harry Belafonte and Friends (1997)

Catalog of films

As actor

1949 : Sugar Hill Times (series TV): regular appearances
1953: Bright Road : Principal of the school
1954: Carmen Jones : Joe
1957: The Heart off Show Business
1957: an island with the sun ( Island in the Sun ): David Boyeur
1959: Le Monde, flesh and the devil ( The World, the Flesh and the Devil ): Ralph Burton
1959 : the Blow of the staircase ( Odds Against Tomorrow ): Johnny Ingram
1970 : The Angel Levine : Alexander Levine
1972 : Buck and its accomplice ( Buck and the Preacher ): the preacher
1974: Uptown Saturday Night : Geechie daN Beauford
1981: Grambling' S White Tiger (TV): Coach Eddie Robinson
1995: White Man ( White Man' S Burden ): Thaddeus Thomas
1996: Jazz '34, Remembrances off Kansas City Swing ( Jazz “34 ): Narrator
1996: Kansas City : Seldom considering
1999: Vote under influence ( Swing Votes ) (TV): Will Dunn
2006 : Bobby of Emilio Estevez: Nelson

As producer

1959 : Le Monde, flesh and the devil ( The World, the Flesh and the Devil )
1959: the Blow of the staircase ( Odds Against Tomorrow )
1970: The Angel Levine
1972 : Buck and its accomplice ( Buck and the Preacher )
1984: Happy Street
1995: The Affair (TV)
2000: Parting the Toilets (serial TV)

As type-setter

1984 : Happy Street

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