RIP King of Calypso
A life well lived
I think that one of my earliest memories is hearing the banana boat song on two way family favourites.
Must have been about three or four at the time.
Apparently (according to Simon Mayo)
Day O / The banana boat song is Track one Side one of the first ever million selling album Calypso
As a young child who had just been allowed to use his father’s record player, I fondly recall playing his copy of the ‘Mary’s Boy Child’ EP. R.I.P. Mr. Belafonte. Yours was a life well and purposefully lived.
His appearance on The Muppets was my childhood introduction. A fantastic episode and what an entertainer.
I recall this episode.
His popularity reached a new generation when his songs were featured in the film Beetlejuice.
I think of Banana boat(Day-O) more than the movie
Many fond memories. The songs mentioned above from that inherited record which gets played at intervals. My parents also had a copy of Carmen Jones which was played regularly. I remember that and his activism throughout his life. May he walk in peace.
Great LP with Harry’s voice beautifully captured.
His political activism was also significant and praiseworthy (IMO), especially in the civil rights movement and for UNICEF.