Harry Belafonte biography

 

Harry Belafonte was born in Harlem, New York City, but his immigrant mother soon decided that the island of her birth, Jamaica, would be a safer place for her child and sent him back there to spend his formative years and early adolescence. Life on the island and all its variety became a cultural reservoir which he drew upon later in life for his artistic expression.

Having completed his tour of duty in the U.S. Navy, Harry Belafonte returned to New York where he worked in the garment center and as a janitor's assistant. But it wasn't until he was given two free tickets to a production of "Home is the Hunter" at the American Negro Theatre that the world of theater opened to him and he found focus.

He joined the Dramatic Workshop of the School of Social Research under the tutelage of the great German director, Erwin Piscator, and with classmates like Marlon Brando, Walter Matthau, Rod Steiger and Tnnv Curtis - just to name a few - Belafonte became thoroughly grounded in the world of the performing arts.

Monty Kaye, the highly respected promoter of the Royal Roost, came to his rescue when his government grant ran out he had heard Belafonte sing at the Workshops and hired him as the intermission singer at the famed jazz club. Through the audience may have had some curiosity as to who Belafonte was, they were most familiar with his back up band - Charlie Parker Miles Davis, Max Roach and Tommy Potter.

 A succession of night clubs led to Broadway and his first musical, John Murray Anderson's Almanac .His reviews were astounding and the young singer, on his first go round on Broadway, won the coveted Tony Award for his performance.

 A few months later, Belafonte entered into a long and fruitful recording contract with RCA Victor. And in 1955, his third album Calypso ,became the first album to sell over one million copies.

Harry Belafonte has dedicated his life to uniting people and doing battle for causes often considered controversial. In 1960, he was named by President John F. Kennedy as cultural advisor to the Peace Corps. The first member of the entertainment industry to be so named, he served in that capacity for five years.

But, it was the civil rights struggle in the United States that commanded his greatest involvement. His fervent pursuit for ,justice led him to a long and deep commitment to the movement.

In the early 50s, Belafonte met young Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. on his historic visit to New York. From that day until the leader's assassination, Belafonte and King developed a deep and abiding friendship that for Harry Belafonte, still stands as one of the most precious of his  experiences.

Disturbed by cruel events unfolding in Africa because of war, famine and drought and influenced by the work done by Mohamed Amin and Bob Geldorf, Belafonte, on January 28, 1985 set in motion the wheels that led to 

"We Are the World".

In 1987, Belafonte accepted the appointment as UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. Only the second American to hold this title, the first being Danny Kaye, he currently shares the task of tending to the needs of the children of the world not only with the dedicated men and women of UNICEF, but also with his colleagues, Liv Ullmann, Lord Richard Attenborough, Sir Peter Ustinov and Tetsuko Kuroyanagi.

For the past several years, Belafonte has continued to devote himself globally to civil and human rights issues, focusing in particular on the United States and South Africa. His close personal relationship with Nelson Mandela afforded him the opportunity to host the great leader throughout his triumphant visit to the United States.

Belafonte immediate future is filled with the commitments of significance to him. He has recently completed filming "White Man's Burden", co-starring vith John Travolta. The film, witch will be released in the fall put the reverse spin on reality - blacks are the dominant race and whites are the underclass.

Other projects include a co-production of Taylor Branch's Pulitzer Prize winning novel, "Parting the Waters" with director Jonanthan Demme and producer Ed Saxon . For Turner Network television, Belafonte will direct "Port Chicago Mutiny", produced by Paula Weinstein. He is executive producer on the HBO Shawcase film "The affair", which will air in October 95. Belafonte recently completed filming Robert Altman's "Kansas City" the movie  is set to be released In late 95. He also collaborating with Altman on another film which is yet untitled.

Harry Belafonte lives in New York with his wife, Julie, a former dancer with the Katherine Dunham Company They have two children, Gina and David. Gina is an actress working in television and film. David is Executive Director of Belafonte Enterprises, Inc. - the family held company. Belafonte also has two children from a previous marriage - Shari and Adrienne. Shari is a television and film actress, and has recently embarked in her first business venture - the development of a unique cosmetic line. Adrienne Biesemeyer has an MA, LPC in Child Family Therapy, and is a private practitioner in Lewisburg, West Virginia specializing in early childhood and adolescent issues. However, for Harry her greatest achievement will always be the two grandchildren she gave him : Rachel and Brian.