<P> Harry Belafonte heard the song being performed by the choir and sought permission to record it . It was recorded in 1956 for his album An Evening with Belafonte . An edited version was subsequently released as a single , reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1957 . It was the first single to sell over one million copies in the UK alone . To date , Belafonte 's version has sold over 1.19 million copes . In 1962 . the full - length version was added to a re-issue of Belafonte 's previously released album To Wish You a Merry Christmas . </P>
<P> Harry Belafonte heard the song being performed by the choir and sought permission to record it . It was recorded in 1956 for his album An Evening with Belafonte . An edited version was subsequently released as a single , reaching No. 1 on the UK Singles Chart in November 1957 . It was the first single to sell over one million copies in the UK alone . To date , Belafonte 's version has sold over 1.19 million copes . In 1962 . the full - length version was added to a re-issue of Belafonte 's previously released album To Wish You a Merry Christmas . </P>
who sang mary 's boy child in 1957
who sang mary 's boy child in 1957
Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte