HOUSTON, TEXAS (January 10, 2017) — Harry Belafonte, who championed social equality and brought global awareness to the plight of the African people, has accepted an invitation from the Brilliant Lecture Series and Scott Brogan, its Founding Director, to appear in Houston. The ground-breaking artist, humanitarian and activist will appear on Thursday, February 23, 2017 in an interview-style setting in Cullen Theater, presented by HEB. This one-night event, which takes place one week shy of Mr. Belafonte’s 90th birthday and coincides with America’s observance of Black History Month, is also supported by the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce.

“The world has few men of Mr. Belafonte’s stature and style,” observes Brogan, who also serves as the Executive Director of the Brilliant Lecture Series. “Most people know that he introduced Calypso music to popular audiences, but he was also the first African-American TV producer and the first African American man to win an Emmy. He conceived the idea for the Grammy-winning song that became “We Are the World”. He was an acting classmate of Marlon Brando, a co-star of Dorothy Dandridge and a friend and confidante of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Belafonte performed with Miles Davis, Charlie Parker, Miriam Makeba, Nana Mouskouri and Bob Dylan. He has won three Grammy Awards, one Tony Award and Kennedy Center Honors. Belafonte has been an UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for over 30 years and has been an outspoken activist for human rights throughout his life. Houstonians of all backgrounds will be inspired by the remarkable life of this American treasure as told in his own words.”

Tickets for “A Conversation with Harry Belafonte”, presented by HEB in association with the Greater Houston Black Chamber of Commerce, are available now through www.BrilliantLectures.org. Prices begin at $35 and a limited number of VIP tickets are offered at $250 each, which include Premiere Seating, an invitation to a private, pre-program reception with Mr. Belafonte and an autographed copy of his book “My Song: A Memoir”. Tickets to the Private Patron Dinner, held immediately following the show, are available for $500 by calling 713-974-1335 or emailing info@BrilliantLectures.org. All tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable.

Showtime for the estimated 90 minute dialogue is 7:00 PM. The public is asked to note that no audio or visual recording of the program is allowed.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, please visit http://tickets.houstonfirsttheaters.com/single/eventDetail.aspx?p=1971. To learn more about this event and other upcoming productions, visit Brilliant online.

ABOUT HARRY BELAFONTE

Harry Belafonte, Jr. is a humanitarian and political activist known best as a singer from the 1950s who started the craze for Caribbean-inflected music. Born in 1927 in New York City, the son of a Jamaican mother and Martiniquan father, Belafonte was sent to live with his grandmother in Jamaica from 1932 to 1940. When he returned, a gift of two theatre tickets served as the catalyst for a performing career that would span decades.

His first album “Calypso” sold over 1 million copies in 1956. Crowned the “King of Calypso” he continued to perform throughout the late 50s and 60s until the Beatles were introduced in the States and changed the face of music.

Early in his career, Belafonte became an activist and his success propelled his support for political and humanitarian activities. An ardent advocate for America’s Civil Rights Movement, Belafonte became close friends with Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. In the 70s and 80s, Belafonte continued performing around the world, furthered his acting and recording careers and turned his focus to the conditions of the African people. He organized the USA for Africa effort, launched a campaign for the awareness of Rwanda and later supported initiatives against AIDS in Africa. For his efforts, he was awarded the Bishop John T. Walker Distinguished Humanitarian Service Award.

Belafonte has four children and currently resides in New York City with wife, Pamela.

ABOUT BRILLIANT

Founded in 2005 by Executive Director Scott Brogan, Brilliant Lecture Series is a Houston-based 501(c)(3) charitable organization serving the community as a spoken word and performing arts advocate and facilitator of cultural programming of the highest caliber. Its impressive portfolio of alumni presenters includes Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan and President Mikhail Gorbachev along with Sidney Poitier, George Clooney, Maya Angelou, Robert Duvall and dozens of the most iconic, positive role models in the world, reaching over 98,000 patrons in 11 years of programming.

Brilliant provides a forum for education, entertainment and inspiration to residents and visitors to the Greater Houston area and its individual communities. Brilliant is proud to have produced events designed and designated to enrich the lives of audience members from all walks of life. As part of Brilliant’s educational mission, free and reduced-fee tickets for its touring plays, musicals, concerts and lecture programs are designated for use by a variety of underserved groups that include refugees, students, veterans and many other community sectors. To learn more, visit BrilliantLectures.org