Is there any one of us from our generation whose parents DIDN'T own at least one Harry Belafonte album?
But then that statement would be true of just about ANYBODY growing up in the mid-to-late '50's.
Harry absolutely DOMINATED the album charts during the early rock era ...
While the kids were buying the latest singles by all of their favorite rock and roll acts, Harry racked up eleven Top 20 albums on Billboard's Top LP Chart between 1956 and 1962.
And we're talking HUGE LP's here ...
His first two ... "Belafonte" and "Calypso" ... both went to #1 ... and "Calypso" stayed there for 31 weeks ... better than half a year! His third chart LP, "An Evening With Belafonte," peaked at #2 and his fourth, "Belafonte Sings Of The Caribbean," went to #3.
Collectively, these LPs spent a total of 196 weeks on the chart ... a reign of four years ... often overlapping each other, giving Harry multiple albums charting at the same time. Incredibly, his 1959 LP "Belafonte At Carnegie Hall" would ride the charts for another 168 weeks all on its own! Suffice to say, Harry Belafonte RULED the charts at that time.
Incredibly, despite his revolutionary calypso sound, Harry Belafonte was NOT born in Jamaica (although he sang of it often) but rather in Harlem, New York! (He was, however, of Jamaican descent, both of his parents having been born there.) He pioneered a new sound in folk music that garnered him worldwide success. In 1956 and 1957 alone, Harry also scored seven Top 40 pop hits, including "Jamaica Farewell" (#14, 1956), "Mary's Boy Child" (#12, 1956), "Banana Boat (Day-O)", #2, 1957 and "Mama Look At Bubu" (#6, 1957).
But his success wasn't limited to the pop charts and nightclub career ...
He was also an actor, starring in both good and bad films throughout his career ... and an activist / humanitarian. He was a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, marched alongside Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., was named Cultural Advisor to the The Peace Corps by President John F. Kennedy, and was even prominently on display during the filming and recording of the USA For Africa mega-hit, fund-raising single, "We Are The World."
Sadly, we lost Harry Belafonte yesterday at the age of 96 due to congestive heart failure. The impact he made on the world was felt on so many levels. He will be missed.
