The world’s biggest association of music professionals, The Recording Academy, has renamed its “Song for Social Change” award in honor of the late American singer and actor, Harry Belafonte.
The ‘Special Merit’ award, instituted two years ago, will now be known as the “Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award.” It honors songwriters who compose music that speaks to social issues and inspires positive global impact.
Harry Belafonte, who died on April 25, 2023, is celebrated as “a powerful voice for social justice” throughout his career.
In a statement following the announcement, Harvey Mason Jr, CEO of the Recording Academy, said the organization was honored to recognize the lasting influence of the music legend and will continue to celebrate his works that have” inspired global communities towards social impact.”
Belafonte’s daughters and his third wife, Pamela, said the recognition will inspire future generations to continue “using their voices and art for justice and positive change.”
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According to The Recording Academy, the Special Merit Award will now be categorized as the “CEO’s Merit Award”, adding that finalists and recipients will be “selected annually by a committee composed of a community of peers dedicated to artistic expression and the craft of songwriting to affect social change.”
The submission period for the current cycle of the Harry Belafonte Best Song for Social Change Award is scheduled from July 17 to August 30, 2024.
Harry Belafonte, born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr, is known globally for popularising calypso music with international audiences in the 1950s and 1960s. His breakthrough album Calypso, released in 1956, was the first million-selling compilation by a single artist.
He was a close confidant of Martin Luther King Jr. during the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s and acted as the American Civil Liberties Union celebrity ambassador for juvenile justice issues.
Belafonte’s achievements include three Grammy Awards, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award.
In addition to other recognitions, he was awarded the National Medal of Arts in 1994 and was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in the “Early Influence” category in 2022.
