'King of Calypso' tribute singer gets Christ Church grooving

By Dana Kampa
| 2:15 p.m. January 24, 2026

Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe singer Michael Mejia-Mendez belts the opening note of Harry Belafonte's iconic "Day-O" during a tribute performance on Jan. 21 at Christ Church of Longboat Key.

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Singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte is universally known as the "King of Calypso" who introduced many to the musical genre with his hit song "Day-O" and others. But he was far from limited to a specific sound, as one performer with the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe recently demonstrated with a tribute show.

Michael Mejia-Mendez, who has been with the group for 16 seasons, took centerstage at Christ Church of Longboat Key the evening of Jan. 21 for a special performance.

He took listeners through the life of Belafonte, immediately jumping into the drum-backed, high-energy "Lead Man Holler."

Mejia-Mendez considers Belafonte to be "one of our finest Caribbean-American pop stars in history."

"His fascination with folk music took him internationally," he explained before singing some of Belafonte's music that was inspired by his time in Mexico and Haiti. Belafonte's talents even extended to rhythm and blues.

Mejia-Mendez said, given his Dominican Republic heritage, he especially appreciates being able to celebrate the singer's legacy with this show.

"A lot of the songs I'm singing right now are pretty relative to my experience," he said. "The lyrics paint pictures in my head of things like I felt them yesterday."

Belafonte was born in 1927 in New York City to his father, who emigrated from Martinique, and his mother, who emigrated from Jamaica. He went on to become a lauded folk singer who celebrated the pan-Caribbean music of the 1950s. In addition to performing on Broadway — earning a Tony Award in the process — he appeared on the big screen in multiple hit films.

Audience members gleefully joined in with the choruses they knew, singing, "Oh, island in the sun, willed to me by my father's hand, all my days I will sing in praise of your forest, your waters, your shining sun."

Mejia-Mendez originally starred in a limited-engagement, sold-out show paying tribute to Belafonte. WBTT resident sound designer Patrick Russini helped facilitate the show that evening.

The church has made it an annual tradition to invite members of WBTT to Longboat Key for a performance. Last year, members enjoyed the musical stylings of Delores McKenzie for her "Belles of Broadway" show.

For more about the troupe's upcoming shows, visit WestcoastBlackTheatre.org.

Karen Gardiner, one of the evening's main coordinators, introduces the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Michael Mejia-Mendez to perform a tribute to Harry Belafonte on Jan. 21 at Christ Church of Longboat Key.

Michael Mejia-Mendez put on an interactive show while performing Harry Belafonte's tunes, calling on the audience to sing along with his most well-known songs.

Michael Mejia-Mendez engages audiences at Christ Church of Longboat Key.

Christ Church of Longboat Key Rev. Julia Piermont smiles while Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe's Michael Mejia-Mendez sings.

Michael Mejia-Mendez offered up some of Harry Belafonte's slower songs along with the high-flying classics.

Mike and Karen Gardiner said, as fans of Michael Mejia-Mendez's previous work with the Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe, they were delighted to have him perform on Longboat Key.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.