Harewood was born in Dayton, Ohio, the son of Emerson Macaulay (1915-1980) and Estelle Olivia Harewood (1924-1991). He has five siblings, Emerson M. Harewood, Jr. (deceased), Theolanda Harewood (deceased), Philip B. Harewood (deceased), Floranne E. Dunford and Lawanda G. Pitts. He graduated from the Conservatory of Music at the University of Cincinnati in 1971.