Tribute to Harry Belafonte
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Guitar Association of Sri Lanka remembers the legendary American singer and humanist who turns 90 years
The Guitar Association of Sri Lanka has organised ‘A Tribute to Harry Belafonte’, a concert in recognition of Harry Belafonte’s contribution to music on March 25 at Russian Centre, Colombo.
Many leading singers in Sri Lanka will participate in the show and entrance will be free of charge.
In Sri Lanka the influence of his songs has gone beyond the English music audience. Sinhala Baila singer, the late M.S. Fernando composed a song, ‘Pol-Pol’, a kind of Sinhala parody of “Coconut woman”. Every calypso band in Sri Lanka includes Belafonte’s songs in their repertoire.
A multi-talented performer, Harry Belafonte was born on March 1, 1927, in New York City. As a youth, he struggled with poverty and a turbulent family life. Belafonte’s career took off with the film Carmen Jones (1954). Soon after, he had several hits—”The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” and “Jamaica Farewell.” In addition to his acting and singing career, Belafonte worked as a champion for many social and political causes.
Always outspoken, Belafonte found inspiration for his activism from such figures as singer Paul Robeson; writer and activist W. E. B. Du Bois; and civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. In the 1950s, Belafonte met Martin Luther King, Jr. The pair became good friends, and Belafonte emerged as a strong voice for the civil rights movement.