At age 96, actor and singer Harry Belafonte passed away. He was renowned for breaking down racial barriers. In the presence of his wife, the iconic singer passed away on Tuesday morning from congestive heart failure.
With his music, Belafonte helped pave the way for numerous new African American performers. He was a civil rights movement pioneer. He was dubbed the “King of Calypso” and was well recognised for introducing Jamaican mento folk tunes to an international audience. To learn more about the activist’s life and career, continue reading.
Singer-Activist Harry Belafonte Dies at 96
In a statement on Tuesday, Ken Sunshine, a representative for Belafonte, announced his passing. Belafonte, who was born in Jamaica in 1927, went to George Washington High School before enlisting in the US Navy.
He joined in The New School’s Dramatic Workshop in the late 1940s and studied acting there with German director Erwin Piscator. Belafonte went on to sing in clubs in New York to pay for his acting class tuition. He also researched folk music archives at the US Library of Congress.
His 1956 album Calypso, which included the number-one single Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), catapulted him to fame. The album became the first record to sell over a million copies right away, making Belafonte a household name throughout the world.
Over the course of his career, Belafonte published over 30 albums, which collectively sold millions of copies. He has worked with well-known musicians like Lena Horne, Odetta, and Miriam Makeba.
Belafonte was a Three-Time Grammy Winner
In his career, the singer took home three Grammys, including a Lifetime Achievement Award. He has a background in acting and has made appearances in a number of films and TV episodes, such as Buck and the Preacher, White Man’s Burden, Kansas City, Carmen Jones, and The Player.
Belafonte became an outspoken supporter of social justice and equality by continually bringing attention to the difficulties faced by African Americans and other disadvantaged communities. One of his most significant contributions to the civil rights movement came from his participation in the 1963 March on Washington.
Belafonte has been actively involved in humanitarian activities in addition to his civil rights work, such as providing aid to those affected by natural disasters and humanitarian crises around the world. He worked as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador and received numerous awards for his charitable work.
Tributes Pour in for the Singer
On social media, Harry Belafonte has received tributes from a variety of celebrities and followers. “Another “GREAT TREE” has fallen: Harry Belafonte, a Trailblazer and Hero to us all,” Oprah Winfrey wrote. We appreciate your activism, singing, and artistic talent as well as the fact that you once put your life in danger to raise money for the revolution.
“I loved Mr. Belafonte and I’m so grateful for his revolutionary work and his massive influence on our nation and the world,” singer Jon Legend wrote in a tweet. Just before this interview, I learned that he had died. He put in such a lot of effort and energy. I hope he gets the rest he deserves.
The soul of Harry Belafonte may rest in peace. Keep checking back for new information.
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