Harry Belafonte Dead at 96

hollydolly

hollydolly

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American singer Harry Belafonte has died of congestive heart failure at the age of 96, his spokesman has confirmed. The civil rights icon was pronounced deceased at his home in the Upper West Side of Manhattan on Tuesday.

Belafonte made a splash in Hollywood in the 1950s, becoming a star with his hit songs Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) and Jump in the Line. That success ultimately led to leading roles in films like Carmen Jones and Island in the Sun. But as he became more and more of a household name, Belafonte started to speak out against the racism he experienced in Hollywood as he described himself as a singer of music with 'roots in the black culture of American *****es, Africa and the West Indies.'

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No No No No 😭😭😭

This is a man I greatly admired, loved and actually met when I was 12 or so in LA. We were staying in 1963 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. When his black children went into the pool, all the white people left and that is when my mother insisted it's time for a swim. I played with his little girl. Harry was grateful.

I first fell in love with him for "Island in the Sun" with Joan Collins. Had a big crush, so when I met him in L.A.---DAYO!

R.I.P. you gorgeous sexy activist big hearted talented man!
 
Pepper said:
No No No No 😭😭😭

This is a man I greatly admired, loved and actually met when I was 12 or so in LA. We were staying in 1963 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. When his black children went into the pool, all the white people left and that is when my mother insisted it's time for a swim. I played with his little girl. Harry was grateful.

I first fell in love with him for "Island in the Sun" with Joan Collins. Had a big crush, so when I met him in L.A.---DAYO!
Click to expand...
that's a great story Peps.... I always thought he was one of the best looking men in Hollywood...
 

I saw him perform a concert at Los Angeles's Greek Theater in 1978. He wore black pants and a blindingly white shirt that was unbuttoned halfway to his waist. Despite being in his early 50s, he was one of the se-xiest performers I've ever seen, no gyrating moves, flashy lighting or elaborate staging necessary. He and his voice were simply magnetic. Every note was on target and he was gracious and playful with the audience.

Thanks for the memories, Harry, and for sharing your gifts with the world. May you rest in peace.
 
Pepper said:
No No No No 😭😭😭

This is a man I greatly admired, loved and actually met when I was 12 or so in LA. We were staying in 1963 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. When his black children went into the pool, all the white people left and that is when my mother insisted it's time for a swim. I played with his little girl. Harry was grateful.

I first fell in love with him for "Island in the Sun" with Joan Collins. Had a big crush, so when I met him in L.A.---DAYO!

R.I.P. you gorgeous sexy activist big hearted talented man!
Click to expand...
That's an amazing story, @Pepper! That's wonderful you played with his daughter. It showed your good heart!
 
Our seventh grade music teacher, Miss Sneed, had us sing his songs during music class. That would have been 1955. Class act he was. We all had great fun singing the Banana Boat song. RIP Harry. Your music lives on in my heart.

(Miss Sneed was a class act too. After music class came recess. She'd play sandlot softball on the gravel diamond with us.)
 
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