Harry Belafonte dead @ 96

[TheStoicPaisano 9940]

 

[G650 14305]

Fuck. RIP

[Nuge 2007]

That's a good long life.  Didn't know he was besties with MLK.

[gofuckyourself 8734]

Used to sing the Banana Boat song to my youngest at bedtime. Fun music.

[WhatTheBuck 28852]

4 hours ago, gofuckyourself said:

Used to sing the Banana Boat song to my youngest at bedtime. Fun music.

I’m sure I saw him as a guest on some 70’s variety shows like Carol Burnett or Flip Wilson. My family used to watch those. But I especially remember this:

 

[Rimbo 26482]

absolute legend who made the world a better place

[YGIFS 19453]

The harmonization here is actually pretty impressive considering they hadn't worked together much on it, and they were....you know manipulating puppets.  I mentioned this on another thread, but this is a beautiful song by Belafonte that is so simple in its message.  As usual, we miss the point these days.  But true story-Henson loved the masks because it guided both the lyrics and the notion that the outward appearance is borderline meaningless...it's the message inside that counts.  Belafonte took the opportunity very seriously, and of course...his voice is liquid silk.  Henson crumbled to tears afterwards.  Of both his big shows and the whole universe he created, Henson said this was his favorite moment.  And in the second clip, you'll see what it meant to him and his family, even in death.  Take a lesson America:

 

We're running short on heroes, America.  Let's start stepping up.  There isn't another Belafonte in the on-deck circle.  

[Napoleon 8733]

4 hours ago, WhatTheBuck said:

 

 

 

[WhatTheBuck 28852]

7 minutes ago, Napoleon said:

 

Huh? That at my age I mostly remember seeing him on the Muppet Show when I was a pre-teen? I don’t follow.