Harry Belafonte, Mary's Boy Child singer, actor and civil rights activist, dies aged 96
officialcharts.comSinger, actor and staunch civil rights activist Harry Belafonte as died aged 96, it's been announced. The beloved American star was the recipient of a Grammy, Emmy and Tony award, as well as the coveted Official Christmas Number 1 in his lifetime.
Belafonte died of heart failure at his New York home on Tuesday with his wife at his side, his spokesperson said. In the UK, he is best remembered for his track Mary's Boy Child, which became the Official Christmas Number 1 of 1957.
Spending a total of seven weeks at Number 1, Mary's Boy Child also holds the distinction of being one of the best-selling singles in Official Charts history.
In an interesting chart quirk, Mary’s Boy Child has been a Christmas Number 1 twice for totally different artists. Harry Belafonte topped the charts with it in 1957 and Boney M took a one-horse open sleigh all the way to Number 1 with it (mashed up with Oh My Lord) in 1978.
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