Singer, actor, activist Harry Belafonte dies at 96

 

Harry Belafonte, American Singer and Civil Rights Activist, Dies at 96

Harry Belafonte, a legendary American singer, actor, and civil rights activist, passed away at his home in Manhattan's Upper West Side at the age of 96. His longtime spokesman, Ken Sunshine, confirmed that Belafonte died on April 25 from congestive heart failure.

Belafonte was a trailblazer who broke down racial barriers with his highly personal brand of folk music, including hit records such as "Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)" and "Jamaica Farewell." His album "Calypso," which topped the Billboard album chart in 1956 and remained there for 31 weeks, was the first album by a single artist to sell more than a million copies. He also became the first Black actor to achieve major success in Hollywood as a leading man.

But Belafonte's legacy extends far beyond his artistic achievements. He was a lifelong friend and supporter of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and played a crucial role in the civil rights movement. He helped fund the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, bailed out Dr. King and other activists from jail, and even quietly maintained an insurance policy on Dr. King's life. After Dr. King's assassination in 1968, Belafonte donated his own money to ensure that the King family was taken care of.

Belafonte's contributions to American music and civil rights activism will be remembered and celebrated for generations to come.


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