harold george "harry" belafonte, jr. (originally belafonete; born march 1, 1927) is an american musician, singer, actor, and social activist. his father was from martinique; his mother was of jamaican descent. he is a very successful pop singer. some call him the "king of calypso," because he popularized this caribbean musical style in the 1950s. belafonte is well known for singing the "banana boat song", with the words ""day-o"."