MAY 11 • 2023 | 5

in my career. He wanted to 
know about my role on the 
Dick Purtan Show. I told him 
I played a sidekick character 
on the morning show known 
as Big Al Muskavito. “Harry,” 
I said, “I’m Italian by morning 
and Jewish by night.” Little 
did I know that line would be 
revisited in a most surprising 
way. 
As the dinner party wound 
down, I was surprised with 
yet another invitation to team 
up with Harry for a bonus 
engagement that very night. 
I was asked to drive him 
back to his hotel! There were 
no Ubers back then, but I 
certainly was uber-excited. 
And nervous. That was some 
precious cargo. 

SHOWTIME!
There was no formal 
rehearsal prior to the benefit 
performance, just a few 
directions from Harry. I was 
to follow his lead and repeat 
the “Banana Boat” verses after 
him. He knew enough about 
me already to know I would 
add some levity and trusted 
me with the freedom to do my 
thing.
I waited nervously in the 
wings for my calypso debut, 
dressed in a costume that was 
the closest thing I envisioned 
to an islander singer: large 
ruffled colors from head to 
toe. Call it goofy comedian 
performs with strikingly 
handsome international 
singer. Sort of Martin and 
Lewis meets “Belafonte and 
Big Al.” 
Just prior to my entrance, 
Harry introduced me as 
his surprise guest from the 

Dick Purtan Show: “Ladies 
and gentleman,” he boomed, 
“Big Al Muskavito!” He then 
added: “He tells me that 
during the day he’s Italian 
and at night he’s Jewish.” I 
couldn’t believe it. It got a big 
laugh, and I loved it. He most 
certainly, and sincerely, had 
listened to me at the previous 
night’s dinner party.
I entered from stage left. 
Harry stared in astonishment 
at my get-up and said to the 
audience: “I swear to God 
folks, I had no idea this was 
coming.” 
We broke into the “Banana 
Boat” song complete with 
my loud off-key “Day-O!” 
After the second verse, Harry 
paused and turned to me and 
said: “Smooth ... smooth as 
grease.” To which I replied: 
“Like Jamaican Rum.” The 
sold-out audience of 3,000 was 
roaring, and I was having an 
out-of-body, joyful experience. 
It was surreal.
I knew right then and 
there that experience could 
never be duplicated. But I 
was wrong. So well-received 
was the engagement that Roz 
got Harry to return for the 

following year’s Celebration of 
Diversity program and yep, we 
did it all over again in March 
of 2001. 
This time I came on stage 
dressed as a nerdy tourist with 
baggy shorts, loud colorful 
printed shirt, black socks and 
gym shoes, a Mickey Mouse 
hat and an instamatic camera 
draped around my neck.
Harry came over and put 
his arm around me, turned to 
the audience and asked: “Now 
tell us the honest-to-God’s 
truth … who’s cuter?” The 
crowd howled with laughter 
to which I replied: “Come on 
HB, don’t put them on the 
spot.” 
He then suggested we 
should make movies together. 
“
Al, we should do either the 
Odd Couple or Guess Who’s 
Coming to Dinner.”
Yes, it was a different year, 
a different costume, but my 
singing was still the same 
melodic mess, but, thankfully, 
another sold-out Detroit 
Opera House audience gave us 
a grand reception. 
You can “enjoy” three clips 
from my two appearances 
with Harry by going to 

YouTube and typing in the 
search bar “bigalmuskavito” 
(no spaces). As I watch it now, 
I get the same charge I had 
back then and feel the same 
sense of gratitude for Roz and 
Harry for affording me this 
once-(actually twice)-in-a-
lifetime experience. 

AN ENCORE GOODBYE
As we concluded sharing 
our memories of Harry 
at the cafe last week, Roz 
eloquently summarized the 
blessing that was Belafonte. 
“Harry just didn’t come 
and perform,” Roz said. 
“From his humanity to his 
elegant physicality, he left 
his essence, his spirit in 
his talent and in his style. 
Something about Harry 
always lingered, like the way 
a perfume lingers in the air.”
As we parted last week, 
Roz perfectly and succinctly 
summarized my special time 
with Harry: “There was this 
natural fluidity and symbiotic 
occurrence between two 
people, who met each other 
over brisket dinner at my 
house.”
Hmmm … “Brisket and 
Belafonte” — that would’ve 
been the perfect name to put 
up on the marquee had Harry 
and I ever taken “our” show 
on the road.
Rest in peace, Harry 
Belafonte. There is no doubt 
that your memory will be for a 
blessing. 

Alan Muskovitz is a writer, voice-over/

acting talent, speaker, and emcee. Visit 

his website at laughwithbigal.com,”-

Like” Al on Facebook and reach him at 

amuskovitz@thejewishnews.com. (You 

can find Roz @ rozcooperman.com.)

Roz Lullove Cooperman and Alan Muskovitz reminisce about Harry 
Belafonte.

