Harry Belafonte

Harry Belafonte (born 1927) created a sensation in the 1950s when he introduced Americans to the lilting Caribbean rhythms of calypso with his renditions of such songs as "Day-O (Banana Boat Song)." Although trained as an actor, Belafonte achieved his first success in 1949 as a pop music singer before shifting his focus to the American folk songs and traditional West Indian melodies that showcased his talent as a balladeer and reflected his strong social conscience. In 1956 his release of Calypso—the first album to sell more than one million copies—launched the craze for this musical genre and established Belafonte as its most popular interpreter. Believing that his music could help bring people together to work for the common good, Belafonte embraced the dual roles of civil rights activist and humanitarian early in his career, and has continued to advocate for those in need.