Bands & artists like Harry Belafonte

If you like Harry Belafonte, these artists play in similar sounds, ideas, or styles. Use this as a starting point to branch out and find something new to listen to.

New to Harry Belafonte? Start with our listening guide.

Artists to try next

Miriam Makeba

Miriam Makeba

Guide

Like Belafonte, Makeba blends folk and world music with socially conscious themes, featuring vibrant melodies and rich vocal delivery.

African popular music jazz marabi
Pete Seeger

Pete Seeger

Guide

Seeger's folk roots and storytelling approach resonate with Belafonte's reflective undertones, often accompanied by acoustic instrumentation.

traditional folk music
Odetta

Odetta

Odetta's powerful vocals and folk influences align closely with Belafonte's style, incorporating elements of blues and spirituals.

country blues jazz blues pop music
The Weavers

The Weavers

This group shares a similar blend of folk music with social messages, using harmonies that echo the warmth found in Belafonte's work.

traditional folk music
Joan Baez

Joan Baez

Guide

Baez's emotive voice and folk sensibility parallel Belafonte's melodic approach, often addressing poignant themes in her songs.

Afro-Cuban jazz country music folk music
Harry Chapin

Harry Chapin

Guide

Chapins' narrative-driven songs and folk-pop sound reflect a similar balance of joy and reflection as seen in Belafonte’s music.

traditional folk music
Béla Fleck

Béla Fleck

Fleck’s fusion of bluegrass and world music elements creates a rhythmic complexity that resonates with the calypso influences in Belafonte's work.

bluegrass music jazz
Vusi Mahlasela

Vusi Mahlasela

Mahlasela's blend of folk and world music, along with his poetic lyrics, mirrors the emotional depth present in Belafonte's catalog.

música popular brasileira

Common questions

Who sounds like Harry Belafonte?

Artists similar to Harry Belafonte include Miriam Makeba, Pete Seeger, Odetta and The Weavers. Each shares elements of Harry Belafonte's sound while bringing their own perspective.

What genre is Harry Belafonte?

Harry Belafonte is primarily known for folk and calypso. With a rhythmic pulse that balances joyful melodies against reflective undertones, Belafonte's music captivates through its intricate interplay of lightness and gravity.

Where should I start if I like Harry Belafonte?

If you enjoy Harry Belafonte, start with Miriam Makeba — their album "An Evening with Belafonte/Makeba" is a great entry point. Like Belafonte, Makeba blends folk and world music with socially conscious themes, featuring vibrant melodies and rich vocal delivery.