Scripture verse: Luke 1:26
Mary's Boy Child is a 1956 Christmas song, written by Jester Hairston. Hairston wrote the song with a calypso rhythm because he performed it at a party of West Indians. The song's original title was He Pone and Chocolate Tea. It was never recorded in this form. Walter Schumann, conductor of Schumann's Hollywood Choir, asked Hairston to write a new Christmas song for the choir. Hairston simply wrote new lyrics for his calypso song.
Harold George "Harry" Bellanfanti, Jr., professionally known as Harry Belafonte, is an American singer, songwriter, actor, and social activist. He was pronounced the "King of Calypso" for making the Caribbean musical style rise in popularity in the 1950s.
