Remembering Harry Belafonte

Jamaica Farewell, Live in NY

My Anecdote

When I much younger, I attended college at the State University of New York and it just so happened I had several fellow students, who lived near the Hudson River, not far from where Belafonte bought a second home back in the sixties. As it turned out, after buying the place, the famous singer turned around and hired some of the local kids to help take care of the place. This even included operating some of the recreational equipment, such as snowmobiles and four wheel drive jeeps. Not only did this generous effort help keep the vehicles in good working order, but in kept him in good graces with a local population that most likely had little use for his International politics and culture.

All in all, Harry Belafonte was very generous man.

Pictured above is Harry Belafonte with his third wife, Pamela.

Ever since this tune was included in Belafonte's highly successful Calypso album, Jamaica Farewell has widely recorded by many singers. Many contribute the song to Lord Burgess, a noted Caribbean singer of the mid 20th century. However, many others familiar with the region, including Harry, feel the song has older roots and all that Burgess did was draw from several sources, while he re-interpreted an old Caribbean folk song. Either way, the world is little bit richer with this catchy tune having been so successfully popularized by Belafonte and others.

Harry Belafonte died yesterday. He was 96 years old. Harry is known for many things including numerous LP recordings, a stellar Hollywood acting career, supporting international political causes, a generous contributor to charities and perhaps most importantly, as the person, who introduced Calypso to the world.

His 1956 Classic, just called Calypso, was wildly commercially successful beyond anyone's expectations. Immediately, Harry went from being a middling Caribbean singer to an international Superstar. This success lead to an acting career that rivaled that of Sidney Poitier and Paul Robeson, as Harry starred in such pictures as Carmen, Island in the Sun and Bright Road.

As it is true with most actors, Harry's screen presence began to fade over time. To replace his artistic efforts, the middle-aged man turned to social activism in a big way. From a supporter of Martin Luther King, Harry went on to oppose apartheid in South Africa and support famine aid all across the "Dark Continent".

All in all, Harry had a life well-lived and in the end, he will be missed by countless others all over the globe. Not bad for a man born of Jamaican parents in Harlem with the original family name of Bellanfanti.

For more on Belafonte's music.

Harry Belafonte and Dorothy Dandridge in Carmen.