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Harry Belafonte at 85

In a programme first broadcast in 2012, singer, actor and social activist Harry Belafonte talks to Kirsty Lang about milestones in his eventful life.

In a programme first broadcast in 2012, singer, actor and social activist Harry Belafonte talks to Kirsty Lang about milestones in his eventful life.

From life as the child of a single, immigrant mother in New York to international music sensation, civil rights activist and Martin Luther King's right-hand man: Harry Belafonte's life would be fascinating on these grounds alone.

However Belafonte was also involved with the African independence movement - an involvement that brought Barack Obama's Kenyan father to America as a student, he was spied on by the FBI, he launched Miriam Makeba's career in America and he began his own professional music career as a singer for Charlie Parker's band.

Produced by: Ekene Akalawu.

Image: Harry Belafonte, pictured in 1956 (Credit: PA)

Available now

55 minutes

Last on

Sun 22 Jul 2012 02:05GMT

Broadcasts

  • Sat 21 Jul 2012 21:05GMT
  • Sun 22 Jul 2012 02:05GMT