Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Harry Belafonte
Discover the career path of Harry Belafonte, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
Harry Belafonte was a prominent American singer, actor, and civil rights activist. He is best known for popularizing calypso music internationally during the 1950s and 1960s. His album *Calypso* (1956) achieved groundbreaking success as the first LP by a single artist to sell over a million copies. Belafonte leveraged his platform to advocate for civil rights, making him a significant figure in both the entertainment industry and social justice movements.
1949: Launched recording career
In 1949, Harry Belafonte launched his recording career as a pop singer on the Roost label.
April 27, 1953: Recorded "Matilda"
On April 27, 1953, Harry Belafonte recorded "Matilda", which became his signature audience participation song.
1953: First Film Role in Bright Road
In 1953, Harry Belafonte had his first film role in "Bright Road" where he supported the female lead, Dorothy Dandridge.
1954: Refused to Perform in the American South
From 1954, Belafonte refused to perform in the American South in protest against racial prejudice.
1954: Starred in Carmen Jones
In 1954, Belafonte starred alongside Dorothy Dandridge in Otto Preminger's hit musical "Carmen Jones", though his singing was dubbed by an opera singer.
1954: Tony Award
In 1954, Harry Belafonte received a Tony Award for his participation in the Broadway revue John Murray Anderson's Almanac.
1954: Cast Member in Broadway Musical
In 1954, Harry Belafonte was a cast member of the Broadway musical revue and sketch comedy show John Murray Anderson's Almanac.
1955: King Arrested for Montgomery Bus Boycott
In 1955, After King had been arrested for his involvement in the Montgomery bus boycott, he began traveling to Northern cities to spread awareness and acquire donations for those struggling with social segregation and oppression in the South. The two met at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York, in March of the following year.
1955: Starred in "3 for Tonight"
In 1955, Harry Belafonte starred in the Broadway revue "3 for Tonight" with Gower Champion.
1955: Lord Melody Recorded "Mama Look at Bubu"
In 1955, Lord Melody originally recorded the comedic tune "Mama Look at Bubu", also known as "Mama Look a Boo-Boo", which Harry Belafonte later sang.
1956: Performed Banana Boat Song
Harry Belafonte's "Banana Boat Song" from 1956 was performed at his 93rd birthday celebration in 2020.
1956: Release of the Calypso Album
In 1956, Harry Belafonte released his breakthrough album "Calypso", which became the first LP by a single artist to sell a million copies.
1956: Calypso album breakthrough
In 1956, Harry Belafonte's album "Calypso" became the first LP to sell more than one million copies in a year.
March 1957: "Banana Boat Song" release
In March 1957, the "Banana Boat Song" was released in the United Kingdom and spent ten weeks in the top 10 of the UK singles chart, reaching a peak of number two.
1957: Starred in Island in the Sun
In 1957, Belafonte starred in "Island in the Sun", a (then) controversial film hinting at an affair between his character and Joan Fontaine's.
1958: Joined Youth March for Integrated Schools
In 1958, Belafonte joined Martin Luther King Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King, during the Washington D.C. Youth March for Integrated Schools.
1959: Starred in and Produced Odds Against Tomorrow
In 1959, Belafonte starred in and produced Robert Wise's "Odds Against Tomorrow" through his company HarBel Productions, playing a bank robber teamed with a racist partner.
1959: Supported the African American Students Foundation
In 1959, Belafonte was a supporter of the African American Students Foundation, which gave a grant to Barack Obama Sr. to study at the University of Hawaii.
1959: Starred in Tonight With Belafonte
In 1959, Harry Belafonte starred in "Tonight With Belafonte", a nationally televised special.
1960: Appeared in Campaign Commercial for Kennedy
In 1960, Belafonte appeared in a campaign commercial for Democratic presidential candidate John F. Kennedy and performed at Kennedy's inaugural ball.
1960: Recorded live album at Carnegie Hall
In 1960, Harry Belafonte recorded a live album at Carnegie Hall, which was a critical and commercial success.
1960: Won Emmy for Revlon Revue
In 1960, Harry Belafonte won an Emmy for his performance on Revlon Revue.
1960: Kennedy Picked Belafonte to fill endorsement position
In the 1960 election, Belafonte was Kennedy's pick to fill the endorsement position after his win as the first Black man to receive an Emmy Award for his work on Tonight with Belafonte
1961: Contributed to the Freedom Rides
In 1961, Belafonte contributed to the Freedom Rides and supported voter registration drives.
1961: Ended Performance Boycott of the American South
In 1961, Belafonte ended his boycott of performing in the American South, which had started in 1954, as a protest against racial prejudice.
1961: Performed at Kennedy Inaugural Gala
In 1961, Harry Belafonte performed at President John F. Kennedy's inaugural gala.
1962: Released "Midnight Special" album
In 1962, Harry Belafonte's album "Midnight Special" was released, which included Bob Dylan as a harmonica player.
1963: Backed King and Helped Organize March on Washington
In 1963, Belafonte backed King in conversations with Robert F. Kennedy and helped organize the March on Washington, also providing for King's family.
1964: Bankrolled the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee
During the Mississippi Freedom Summer of 1964, Belafonte bankrolled the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, flying to Mississippi with Sidney Poitier and $60,000 in cash.
1964: Last Top 40 Album
In 1964, Harry Belafonte's album "Belafonte at The Greek Theatre" was his last album to appear in Billboard's Top 40.
June 3, 1966: Belnem Construction Begins
On June 3, 1966, construction began on Belnem, a luxurious private community on Bonaire, created as a joint venture between Belafonte and Maurice Neme.
1967: Released "A Strange Song"
In 1967, Harry Belafonte released his last hit single, "A Strange Song", which peaked at number 5 on the adult contemporary music charts.
1967: First Non-Classical Artist at SPAC
In 1967, Harry Belafonte was the first non-classical artist to perform at the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC) in Upstate New York.
September 29, 1968: Taped Appearance on The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour
On September 29, 1968, Belafonte taped an appearance on an episode of "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" performing a controversial Mardi Gras number intercut with footage from the 1968 Democratic National Convention riots.
1968: Appeared on Petula Clark primetime television special on NBC
In 1968, Belafonte appeared on a Petula Clark primetime television special on NBC. Clark smiled and briefly touched Belafonte's arm, which prompted complaints.
1968: Guest hosted The Tonight Show
In 1968, Harry Belafonte guest hosted The Tonight Show, with guests including Martin Luther King Jr. and Senator Robert F. Kennedy.
1971: Released "Calypso Carnival"
In 1971, Harry Belafonte's fifth and final calypso album, "Calypso Carnival", was released by RCA.
1972: Appeared in Buck and the Preacher
In 1972, Belafonte appeared in more films, one of which was "Buck and the Preacher" with Poitier.
1974: Appeared in Uptown Saturday Night
In 1974, Belafonte appeared in more films, including "Uptown Saturday Night" with Poitier.
1974: End of RCA contract
In 1974, Harry Belafonte ended his contract with RCA Victor, after recording regularly for the label since 1953.
1974: Final album for RCA released
In 1974, Harry Belafonte's recording activity slowed down after releasing his final album for RCA.
1977: Released "Turn the World Around"
In 1977, Columbia Records released the album "Turn the World Around", with a strong focus on world music.
1978: Guest Starred on The Muppet Show
In 1978, Harry Belafonte appeared as a guest star on an episode of The Muppet Show, where he performed "Day-O" and "Turn the World Around".
1979: Joined Royal Winnipeg Ballet Board
In 1979, Harry Belafonte served on the Royal Winnipeg Ballet's board of directors.
December 1984: Created "We Are the World"
In December 1984, Harry Belafonte created the American benefit single for African famine relief, "We Are the World", with various artists.
1984: Produced Beat Street
In 1984, Belafonte produced and scored the musical film "Beat Street", dealing with the rise of hip-hop culture, and produced its gold-certified soundtrack.
1985: Helped Organize "We Are the World" and Performed at Live Aid
In 1985, Belafonte helped organize the Grammy Award-winning song "We Are the World" and performed in the Live Aid concert.
1987: Appointed UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador
From 1987 until his death, Belafonte was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador.
1987: Master of Ceremonies at Reception for Oliver Tambo
In 1987, Belafonte served as the master of ceremonies at a reception honoring Oliver Tambo, the president of the African National Congress, at Roosevelt House, Hunter College, in New York City.
1988: Released "Paradise in Gazankulu"
In 1988, Harry Belafonte released "Paradise in Gazankulu", his first album of original material in over a decade, containing protest songs against apartheid.
1988: Songs Featured in Beetlejuice
In 1988, four of Belafonte's songs, including "Day-O" and "Jump in the Line (Shake, Senora)", were featured in the film "Beetlejuice".
1993: Unedited Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour Broadcast
In 1993, the full unedited content of Belafonte's appearance on "The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour" was broadcast as part of a complete syndication package.
1994: Embarked on Mission to Rwanda
In 1994, Belafonte embarked on a mission to Rwanda and launched a media campaign to raise awareness of the needs of Rwandan children.
1995: Starred in White Man's Burden
In 1995, Belafonte starred in a major film, appearing with John Travolta in the race-reverse drama "White Man's Burden".
1996: Starred in Kansas City
In 1996, Belafonte starred in Robert Altman's jazz age drama "Kansas City", which earned him the New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor.
1997: Released "An Evening with Harry Belafonte and Friends"
In 1997, Harry Belafonte released "An Evening with Harry Belafonte and Friends", a soundtrack and video of a televised concert.
1999: Starred in Swing Vote
In 1999, Belafonte starred as an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States in the TV drama "Swing Vote".
1999: Meeting with Cuban Rap Community and Fidel Castro
In 1999, Harry Belafonte met with representatives of the Cuban rap community before meeting with Fidel Castro. This meeting resulted in Castro's approval and the Cuban government's incorporation of rap into Cuban culture.
2001: Visited South Africa to Support HIV/AIDS Campaign
In 2001, Belafonte visited South Africa to support the campaign against HIV/AIDS.
2002: Received Africare's Humanitarian Service Award
In 2002, Africare awarded Belafonte the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award for his efforts.
2004: Traveled to Kenya to Stress Importance of Educating Children
In 2004, Belafonte traveled to Kenya to stress the importance of educating children in the region.
2005: Chávez initiates heating oil program
In 2005, Hugo Chávez initiated a program to provide cheaper heating oil for poor people in the United States, which Belafonte supported.
June 27, 2006: Received BET Humanitarian Award
On June 27, 2006, Belafonte received the BET Humanitarian Award at the 2006 BET Awards.
2006: Appeared in Bobby
In 2006, Belafonte appeared in Emilio Estevez's ensemble drama about the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy, "Bobby", playing Nelson.
October 19, 2007: Represented UNICEF on Norwegian Television
On October 19, 2007, Belafonte represented UNICEF on Norwegian television to support the annual telethon and helped raise a world record of $10 per Norwegian citizen.
December 2007: Keynote Address at ACLU and Awarded Civil Liberties Award
In December 2007, Belafonte gave the keynote address at the ACLU of Northern California's annual Bill of Rights Day Celebration and was awarded the Chief Justice Earl Warren Civil Liberties Award.
2011: Sing Your Song Documentary and Memoir Published
In 2011, the Sundance Film Festival featured the documentary film "Sing Your Song" about Belafonte's contributions to the civil rights movement, and his memoir "My Song" was published.
January 29, 2013: MLK Celebration Keynote Speaker
On January 29, 2013, Harry Belafonte was the keynote speaker and honoree for the MLK Celebration Series at the Rhode Island School of Design, speaking on the role of artists as activists.
2017: Released "When Colors Come Together"
In 2017, Harry Belafonte released "When Colors Come Together", an anthology of some of his earlier recordings, produced by his son David.
2018: Final Film Appearance in BlacKkKlansman
In 2018, Belafonte made his final film appearance in Spike Lee's Academy Award-winning "BlacKkKlansman" as an elderly civil rights pioneer.
2022: Inducted into Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
In 2022, Harry Belafonte was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the Early Influence category.
