Harry Belafonte consists of Harold George.
Harold George Belafonte, Jr. (born on March 1, 1927 in Harlem, New York, United States) is a Jamaican- American musician, actor, social activist. One of the most successful African-American musicians in history, he was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style. Throughout his career he has been an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes. In recent years he has been a vocal critic of the policies of the Bush administration.
From 1935 to 1939 he lived with his mother in the village of Aboukir in her homeland Jamaica. When he returned to New York he attended George Washington High School after which he joined the Navy and served during World War II. At the end of the 1940s he took classes in acting and subsequently received a Tony Award for his participation in John Murray Anderson's Almanac.
Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing the " Banana Boat Song," with its signature lyric "Day-O".
His breakthrough album Calypso ( 1956) was the first full-length album to sell over 1 million copies ( Bing Crosby's White Christmas and Tennessee Ernie Ford's Sixteen Tons, both vinyl singles, had previously surpassed the 1 million mark). The album is number four on Billboard's "Top 100 Album" list for having spent 31 weeks at number 1, 58 weeks in the top ten, and 99 weeks on the US charts.
Belafonte was the first African-American to win an Emmy, with his first solo TV special Tonight with Belafonte (1959). He was also a guest star and sung on an episode of The Muppet Show (aired 1979).
He won a Grammy Award in 2000 for lifetime achievement, and was named one of nine 2006 Impact Award recipients by AARP The Magazine.
