Harry Belafonte
As a BFI season of his films begins, Matthew Sweet and guests explore the long career of great American singer, film star and activist Harry Belafonte.
Popularising calypso music, performing with Sinatra's Rat Pack, Nana Mouskouri and Miriam Makeba and Charlie Parker, starring in films including Otto Preminger's Carmen Jones, the hip hop film he produced called Beat Street, Robert Altman's Jazz City and Spike Lee's BlacKkKlansman: Harry Belafonte's career in film and music ran from 1949 to 2018 but he was also a tireless political activist who was inspired by Paul Robeson. As the BFI launches a season of his films in December, Matthew Sweet is joined by guests including Candace Allen.
Producer: Torquil MacLeod
On the Free Thinking website you can find Matthew Sweet's interview with Harry Belafonte, recorded in 2012 after he published his autobiography My Song and made a documentary Sing Your Song.
Also on the Free Thinking website are more episodes exploring Black History including a discussion about the career of Sidney Poitier and Radio 3 has a series of 5 Essays called Paul Robeson in Five Songs.
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