Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. (originally "Belafonete"; born March 1, 1927) is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing "The Banana Boat Song," with its signature lyric "Day-O." Throughout his career he has been an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes and was a vocal critic of the policies of the George W. Bush Administration. Born Harold George Belafonte, Jr., at Lying-in Hospital, New York City, New York, Belafonte was the son of Melvine (née Love) – a housekeeper (of Jamaican descent) – and Harold George Belafonete, Sr., a Martiniquan who worked as chef in the Royal Navy. From 1932 to 1940, he lived with his grandmother in her native country of Jamaica.
Harry Belafonte says he was NOT catching up on some zzzzzzzs in the middle of a live news broadcast Friday ... insisting he was merely "meditating" with his eyes closed. Belafonte's rep, Ken… READ MORE >
The news anchors at KBAK in Bakersfield, CA were super pumped up for a satellite interview with 84-year-old Harry Belafonte Friday morning ... but when they cut to the "Day-O" singer, he was fast… READ MORE >
