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Harry Belafonte: 1927 – 2023

April 25, 2023 | 11:10 AM
in NEWS
17
Harry Belafonte. Photograph by David Shankbone.

By Carol Tannenhauser

The news that Harry Belafonte, the groundbreaking singer, actor, and civil rights activist, died on Tuesday at the age of 96 was reported by The New York Times, and word of it rippled across the media and the Upper West Side, where Mr. Belafonte lived for many decades.

Stories are written about his difficulty finding an apartment during the segregated 1950s, and how he foiled a racist landlord. Here is one from the Observer, written in 2005:

In the late 1950’s, Harry Belafonte was on top of the world. In 1956, he had recorded the album Calypso—the first ever to sell over one million copies—and had ignited a Jamaican music craze. Awards, accolades, celebrity and its attendant glamour followed in spades.

But none of this was enough to impress a landlord on West End Avenue, who turned Mr. Belafonte down for an apartment in his stately building, which dated back to the turn of the century.

The singer-cum-activist fought back not with picket signs, but with the muscle celebrities give such a workout: money. He bought the entire 13-story building and converted it to a co-op two years later, attracting the likes of singer Lena Horne to take up residence there.

Tributes about Mr. Belafante’s storied life, career, and participation in the global civil rights movement abound. We add the following local vignette from the West Side Rag, by Lydia Wilen, about her and her sister’s memorable encounter with this unforgettable man.

Decades ago, my sister Joany and I were looking for an affordable UWS apartment. The realtor took us to a building on West End Avenue in the 70s. The minute we walked into the apartment we knew it wasn’t for us. The realtor said, “I’ll leave you here to picture its potential.” Before stepping out the door, she turned back to add, “Harry Belafonte lives in the building.” Harry Belafonte! Joany was in love with him and had every one of his albums. I convinced her that even if we moved into this apartment, we’d never see Harry. We rang for the elevator. It came. The door opened and — you’re probably thinking there he was….wrong. We got in and when it reached the lobby, the door opened and there was Harry Belafonte. He smiled his beautiful smile and stepped aside allowing us to exit. We still didn’t take the apartment, but what a memorable D-a-a-a-a-y-O!

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17 Comments
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Sarah
Sarah
2 years ago

Rest in peace to this extraordinary gentleman.

11
Reply
BillyBoy
BillyBoy
2 years ago

Loved him from moment one. Saw him in concert a few times and met him on the streets a few times as well. A wonderful, kind, great smiling and attentive person. RIP mr. Calypso.

8
Reply
Maggie McComas
Maggie McComas
2 years ago

What was the address of th building he bought/

1
Reply
Longtime Westsider
Longtime Westsider
2 years ago
Reply to  Maggie McComas

There should be a historical plaque on the building, noting his residence and ownership, and some succinct facts about his life. Who will make it happen?

9
Reply
Pat W
Pat W
2 years ago
Reply to  Longtime Westsider

Agree. There’s one for Rachmaninov on 84th Street And West End Ave. There should be one for Mr. Belafonte.
Maybe Gail Brewer’s office could orchestrate that?!

0
Reply
Lynn
Lynn
2 years ago

RIP to a elegant & eloquent UWS’er

3
Reply
Spence
Spence
2 years ago

Certainly an “only in New York” story!

2
Reply
Naomi Sheiner
Naomi Sheiner
2 years ago

The story in The Observer is not quite correct. Harry and his wife Julie rented and lived in the building I and my parents and siblings lived in at 300 West End Ave (at 74 St) for many years before he, my father Sidney Sheiner and another tenant bought the building and converted it to a coop. However, it is correct that the landlord did not like having Harry Belafonte in the building and would not have sold it to him as I understood it at the time. The three men had to buy it secretly without disclosing their identities before converting it. I add that I understood that Harry had told Lena Horne about the building after he moved in and she then also rented (and I assume later purchased) an apartment in the building, also long before it was converted to a coop. The apartments were enormous (ours had four bedrooms and three service rooms, five bathrooms) and Harry’s was even bigger because he combined two apartments. The elevator opened to your apartment. The building is still there and still looks gorgeous.

14
Reply
Roger Sadowsky
Roger Sadowsky
2 years ago
Reply to  Naomi Sheiner

Harry was initially turned down as a tenant. He had a white friend reapply under Harry’s name, and he got the lease. He later proceeded to purchase the building with Sidney and one other. The owner of the building was the son of the Dominican Republic dictator Rafael Trujillo.

Last edited 2 years ago by Roger Sadowsky
9
Reply
Sandra
Sandra
2 years ago

It was through the movie Beetlejuice is where I learned of his songs and movies. What a handsome man who did so much to fight for civil rights and the arts.

4
Reply
Sam Katz
Sam Katz
2 years ago

What he did in the 1950s — buy the building — is also what Helena Rubenstein had to do in the 1930s. Incredible stories. He was a great man who will be missed, but God bless him for living until 96. And gorgeous as always!

6
Reply
Elisabeth Jakab
Elisabeth Jakab
2 years ago

Rest In Peace to a giant among us. We will miss. you.

4
Reply
Louise
Louise
2 years ago

I was in my early teens many years ago and a huge fan of Harry Belafonte. I was visiting a friend who lived on West 81St. After the visit when I got in the elevator to return to the lobby, Harry Belafonte was in the elevator! was speechless, couldn’t say a word. He smiled that smile. I was so excited that I ran all the way home. I later learned that his manager lived in that building.

3
Reply
Linsey
Linsey
2 years ago

I was so fortunate to go to a fundraiser at Peter Yarrow’s apartment in the West 60’s so long ago that I can’t recall which decade. He was singing a protest song when the door opened and in walked Harry Belafonte who proceeded to join Peter to complete the song and sing many others, together and alone. What a joy! A gorgeous man inside and out.

5
Reply
Betty
Betty
2 years ago
Reply to  Linsey

How special! A memory to keep forever.

1
Reply
Nila R. Perez
Nila R. Perez
2 years ago

Mr. Belafonte was a gentle soul who nevertheless did whatever he could to further the cause of people of color. He used his position and fame to the good of society and deserves to be well-remembered. May he sing among the angels now and forever.

0
Reply
UWS Native
UWS Native
2 years ago

Lucky me, I was proud to be his neighbor for 15 years. What a giant of a man, and what a truly wonderful person he was. I miss him already. Rest in peace, Mr. Belafonte.

0
Reply

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