Harry Belafonte

Actor

Harry Belafonte, born on March 1, 1927, was an influential American singer, actor, and activist. He gained fame with his breakthrough album "Calypso" (1956), which popularized Caribbean music and included hits like "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)." In film, Belafonte starred in notable movies such as "Carmen Jones" (1954), "Island in the Sun" (1957), and "Odds Against Tomorrow" (1959). His career spanned decades, marked by a dedication to civil rights activism. Belafonte received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, and was an honorary recipient of the Academy Award’s Jean Hersholt Humanitarian Award in 2014.