Harry Belafonte was far more than a hit-making singer — he was an actor, a humanitarian, and one of the most influential civil rights activists of the 20th century. From breaking sales records with calypso music to standing shoulder to shoulder with Martin Luther King Jr., his life spanned music, film, and social justice.
Here are 14 verified facts about the man behind "Day-O" and a legacy that reached far beyond the stage.
Harry Belafonte was born on March 1, 1927, in Harlem, New York, to Caribbean immigrant parents, and spent part of his childhood in Jamaica, an experience that shaped his later calypso sound.
At 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served as a munitions loader during World War II, later using the G.I. Bill to study acting at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School in New York.
His debut album, "Mark Twain and Other Folk Favorites," was released in 1954, showcasing an early blend of folk, pop, and Caribbean influences.
His 1956 album "Calypso" became the first LP by a solo artist to sell over a million copies, and hits like "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" earned him the nickname "King of Calypso."
Belafonte won a Tony Award in 1954 for his role in the Broadway revue "John Murray Anderson's Almanac."
He was a close friend and financial supporter of Martin Luther King Jr., helping organize and fund key civil rights events, including the 1963 March on Washington.
In 1987, Belafonte was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF, using his platform to advocate for children's welfare worldwide.
In 2012, Belafonte co-founded the nonprofit Sankofa.org with his daughter Gina Belafonte and Raoul Roach, an organization that uses arts and culture to support grassroots social justice movements.
Over his career, he received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the National Medal of Arts, and the Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award, among many other honors.
Belafonte received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for his contributions to the entertainment industry.
He was a vocal opponent of apartheid in South Africa and a key supporter of the African National Congress, and he helped organize the 1985 charity recording "We Are the World" with Ken Kragen to raise funds for African famine relief.
In 2011, Belafonte published his autobiography, "My Song: A Memoir," co-written with Michael Shnayerson.
He had four children from two marriages — Adrienne, Shari, David, and Gina — with daughter Shari Belafonte going on to a career as an actress and model, notably in the 1980s series "Hotel."
Harry Belafonte died of congestive heart failure at his home in New York City on April 25, 2023, at age 96.
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