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However, an entire segment of the society often regales the many humanitarian causes Belafonte committed. The release exceeded expectations, making history as the first recording to surpass sales of one million copies.Īllegedly, the record-breaking feat spawned the launch of a Grammy Awards presentation platform to music makers.īelafonte is the proud recipient of six gold records, BET Humanitarian Award, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award and three Grammy Awards among others.
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Much acclaimed for his rendition of the “Banana Boat” song, Belafonte’s “Day-O” emerged the unrivaled triumph in 1956 when he released a compilation album labelled “Calypso.” It was released 10 years before Poitier received accolades for repeating the then-forbidden act.īelafonte scored another first when he snagged an Emmy Award for his television show “Tonight with Harry Belafonte.” In 1957, Belafonte recorded a first for his race and gender becoming the trailblazing Black to portray a romantic character with a white woman in the film “Island In The Sun.” In 1953 he debuted on Broadway in the award-winning musical “Almanac.”ĭirector Otto Preminger steered his career to cinema one year later casting him with Dorothy Dandridge for the co-starring role in the film “Carmen Jones.”įrom there his career exploded to include that of his Caribbean accomplice Sidney Poitier. He has often reflected on times he spent there with fellow student Marlon Brando, jazz masters of the time and now legendary individuals he associated with while perfecting his art. Reportedly, Belafonte sipped champagne afterwards.īorn March 1, 1927, Harold George “Harry” Bellanfanti Jr., to a Jamaican mother and a father from Martinique, the Harlem native scaled to stardom soon after serving in the US Navy.įollowing his stint in the military he enrolled in drama school. Al Sharpton and close family members and friends joined the honoree as he basked in the significance of the ceremonial reception. Belafonte on the lives of Blacks and American culture, for more than seven decades, is a source of inspiration for France and the rest of the world, for future generations”. In handing the honor to the 94-year-old legend, the diplomat hailed “the exceptional and unprecedented place of Harry Belafonte in public life (which) bears witness to the values dear to the United States and the French Republic.”ĭuring the private ceremony in Manhattan, the ambassador elaborated on the exemplary qualities of the recipient saying Belafonte’s embrace of “a number of founding principles of our democratic societies: the pursuit of freedom, equality and the guarantee of human rights for all.”Īdding that “the singular impact of Mr. The also titled “King of Calypso” and first Black Emmy award winner received the distinguished title of Knight of the Legion of Honor, France’s highest order of merit from Ambassador Philippe Etienne, the European nation’s top emissary to the United States. Over-achieving actor, singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte can now add Sir to the long list of titles he has acquired throughout more than seven decades of public appearances.