Wild about Harry

They're dropping like flies at the moment...

Paul O'Grady, Murray Melvin, Dame Mary Quant, Barry Humphries, Len Goodman...

...and now that hunky young Calypso maestro (whose debut album was the first to sell millions across the globe), actor and showman extraordinaire, pioneer of the Civil Rights movement, and legend in his own lifetime, Mr Harry Belafonte has departed for his Island in the Sun for the final time, aged 98.

Harry Belafonte - Island in the Sun

Facts:

• He was mentored by Paul Robeson, and was a friend and confidante (and financial supporter) of Martin Luther King.
• Appearing on Petula Clark's US television show, their arms touched in a loving way, which caused uproar from one of the show's bigoted sponsors - but "Our Pet" stood her ground, the show went out uncut, and Harry's career was given a massive boost.
• He launched the careers Stateside of Miriam Makeeba, Nana Mouskouri and even Bob Dylan (who was Harry's harmonica player).
• It was he who set the ball rolling for an American answer to Bob Geldof and Midge Ure's "Band Aid", gathering a wealth of talent on board for the fundraising single We Are the World in 1985.

RIP, Harry Belafonte (born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr, 1st March 1927 – 25th April 2023)

Totty of the Season

Jon Bon Jovi (60 years old on 2nd March 1962)

Javier Bardem (born 1st March 1969)

Pete Duel (24th February 1940 – 31st December 1971)

Antonio Sabàto Jr. (50 years old on 29th February, but it's not a leap year)

Daniel Craig (born 2nd March 1968)

Jean-Jacques "JJ" Burnel of The Stranglers, 70 on 21st February)

Peter Andre (born 27th February 1973)

Harry Belafonte (95 on 1st March)

Here's some "Sunday music" that might be appropriate for the occasion...

Layton & Johnstone - Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Of Mine [1928}

[Almost 100 years old, yet so bold!]

[NB click any image to embiggen]

When life was slow and oh, so mellow

Many happy returns today to the lovely Nana Mouskouri - globally speaking, the biggest-selling female artist of all time. She may be the butt of many a joke, but when you are that rich I think you have the last laugh...

Here is a sample of the divine Miss M at her very best, duetting with another of the great voices of the 20th century, Mr Harry Belafonte:

Nana Mouskouri & Harry Belafonte - Try To Remember

If that doesn't make you feel all warm and tingly I don't know what will.

Try to remember the kind of September
When life was slow and oh, so mellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When grass was green and grain was yellow.
Try to remember the kind of September
When you were a tender and callow fellow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Try to remember when life was so tender
That no one wept except the willow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That dreams were kept beside your pillow.
Try to remember when life was so tender
That love was an ember about to billow.
Try to remember, and if you remember,
Then follow.

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Follow, follow, follow, follow, follow,
Follow, follow, follow, follow.

Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Although you know the snow will follow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
Without a hurt the heart is hollow.
Deep in December, it's nice to remember,
The fire of September that made us mellow.
Deep in December, our hearts should remember
And follow.

Nana Mouskouri fan site