Darryl Maximilian Robinson Remembers Actor, Singer And Activist Harry Belafonte

Since at the recent 2024 Grammy Awards no Special Recognition or Tribute was paid to the passing of the Gifted Emmy, Grammy, Special Oscar and Tony Award-winning African-American Artist and Civil Rights Activist Harry Belafonte ( EGOT ), your humble servant in The Theatre, Darryl Maximilian Robinson, is pleased to share his modest observations of the the contributions of the late and truly great Harry Belafonte. Long Live "The King of Calypso" Harry Belafonte! And Happy Black History Month!

He was both as fearless in his political views as he was passionate in his craft of performance. He defied authority and conventions not for his own glory, but to spread a message of equality and humanity that millions would come to understand.

Born in the 1920s on Manhattan Island in New York, yet raised on his parents' home Isle of Jamaica, Harry Belafonte would make a huge impact on both the world of politics, and art and enteratainment, in the most profound ways, all while proving to be a truly great artist and inspiring human being that all Americans can look to with admiration and pride.

 

YES, he would become the first African-American male actor to win A Tony Award on Broadway ever ( for Best Featured or Supporting Actor In A Musical for his noted musical work in the 1952 revue "John Murray Anderson's Almanac" ).

Yes, he would become the first African-American male performer to win an Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in 1960 for his 1959 television music special "Tonight With Harry Belafonte".

And yes, he would become with his 1956 Jamaican roots record "Calypso" the first music artist IN ANY GENRE to sell over A MILLION ALBUMS. Later, after scoring a Grammy Award ( the first of three ), he would become known as "The King of Calypso Music"!

He was a 1950s black male leading man in the movies ( especially opposite the late, great Best Actress Oscar Nominee Dorothy Dandridge in "Carmen Jones" ) that African-American moviegoers were delighted to see.

And like his gifted, lifelong friend and fellow actor Sir Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte's screen presence would leave a lasting impact.

BUT HARRY BELAFONTE WAS FAR MORE THAN AN ENTERTAINER!

He was a supporter of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King's efforts to secure Civil Rights, economic opportunities, fair treatment and jobs for every citizen in this country. Harry Belafonte helped organize and raised funds for Dr. King's historic 1963 March On Washington and provided much needed financial assistance to The Freedom Riders in The Deep South.

He fought against hunger and famine around the world. He defied Apartheid in South Africa and aided in the efforts to free Nelson Mandela.

He refused to ever perform in U.S. southern states due to their racist practice of Jim Crow Laws. He outraged Presidential Administrations by arguing against the Embargo of Cuba and was willing to listen to Fidel Castro and Soviet diplomats in regards to Russian peace talks.

He produced theatre on Broadway and beyond that was socially important and culturally relevant to all peoples. In the 1980s, he would be named a Good Will Ambassador by The United Nations and, in 2018, Harry Belafonte would receive an Honorary Academy Award for his Humanitarian efforts around the world.

And along the way, Harry Belafonte would spend much of his own accumulated wealth to support causes he believed in because he saw the value, the need, the nessicity of HELPING HIS FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS AS A PERSONAL BLESSING FOR HIMSELF.

ON APRIL 25, 2023, at the age of 96, we lost the Truly Great Harry Belafonte. May every person who knew and loved his work and his efforts to MAKE THIS WORLD A BETTER PLACE take a moment to remember what a great artist and truly fine human being he was.

R.I.P. "Day-o" Man.

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Darryl Maximilian Robinson is a 50-year-long, Chicago-born stage veteran who has served as The Founder, Artistic Director and Producer of three multiracial, Non-Equity professional chamber theatres including Excaliber Productions Ltd. in St. Louis, Missouri, The Excaliber Shakespeare Company of Chicago, Illinois and ( currently ) The Excaliber Shakespeare Company Los Angeles Archival Project in California.

As an actor, director and producer, Darryl Maximilian Robinson has been blessed to receive and win numerous awards and honors including: The 1981 Fort Wayne News-Sentinel Reviewer's Recognition Award for Outstanding Thespian of the Season for his performances in professional summer stock ( most particularly as Fagin in a revival of Lionel Bart's classic musical "Oliver" ) at The Enchanted Hills Playhouse of Syracuse, Indiana; both a 1997 Chicago Joseph Jefferson Citation Award for Outstanding Actor In A Principal Role In A Play and a 1997 Chicago Black Theatre Alliance Award nomination for Best Leading Actor In A Play for his critically-praised performance as Sam Semela in The ESC revival of South African playwright Athol Fugard's "Master Harold And The Boys" staged at The Windy City's Heartland Cafe Studio Theatre; a 1998 WKKC Radio Chicago Critic's Corner Fine Arts Award for Outstanding Director Of A Play for The ESC revival of Samuel Beckett's classic tragicomedy "Waiting For Godot" ( in which he appeared as Vladimir ) at The Heartland Cafe Studio Theatre; a 2015 / 2016 Los Angeles Elate Season Ticket Holder Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance as the debonair, but aging leading man Ernest in Tad Mosel's classic one-act of Life In The Theatre "Impromptu" presented on a bill of short works entitled "Just 4 Fun" at The Lincoln Stegman Theatre in North Hollywood, California; and a 2019 Broadwayworld Chicago Award nomination for Best Performer In A Musical Or Revue ( Resident Non-Equity ) for his critically-praised performance in the dual roles of The Chairman Mr. William Cartwright and The Mayor Thomas Sapsea in the 2018 Saint Sebastian Players of Chicago revival Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning Best Musical Whodunit "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" presented at the more than a century old St. Bonaventure Church in The Windy City, among others.

Now celebrating 50 years as an American Stage Performer, most recently, Darryl Maximilian Robinson was named a winner of a 2022 Making The World Happening Award for his numerous online theatre-related offerings at Allevents.in. for his numerous online theatre-related offerings during the early years of The Covid-19 pandemic. Darryl Maximilian Robinson has taken part in more than 250 live theatre and literary arts presentations during his five decades of involvement in The Performing Arts.

 

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