Singer, Actor, and Civil Rights Icon Harry Belafonte Icon Passes Away at 96
Harry Belafonte, circa 1957
ARCHIVE PHOTOS/HULTON ARCHIVE/GETTY IMAGES
By: Omar Cook
Actor, activist, and singer, Harry Belafonte passed away at 96 years old.
On Tuesday morning (April 25), Harry Belafonte's longtime spokesperson Ken Sunshine announced to NBC News that Belafonte had passed away due to congestive heart failure.
Harry Belafonte, who was born in Harlem in 1927, is known as the "King of Calypso" and remembered for his unique style of folk music that reflected his Black and Caribbean heritage. He gained popularity as a musician in his late 20s and early 30s, attracting an international following with his critically acclaimed studio album "Calypso" in 1956. This was also his second album to reach No. 1 on the Top Pop Albums chart, according to Billboard.
In 1958, Harry Belafonte, the performer and activist, addressed a gathering of young people at the Lincoln Memorial in Washington D.C. during a march for integration.
(AP Photo/Charles Gorry, File)
During a period when segregation was prevalent and Black representation in the entertainment industry was scarce, Harry Belafonte's rise to fame was a significant achievement. Although other Black entertainers such as Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald had broken racial barriers before him, Belafonte's impact was unprecedented, and he enjoyed unparalleled success. For a time, he was the biggest name in music, transcending racial divides and appealing to audiences of all backgrounds.
Harry Belafonte's success extended beyond music recordings; he was also a highly successful concert performer. With his good looks and natural charisma, he captivated audiences with powerful renditions of folk songs from various cultures around the world. His repertoire included lively calypsos such as "Matilda," work songs like "Lead Man Holler," and poignant ballads like "Scarlet Ribbons." By 1959, Belafonte had become the highest-paid Black performer in history, securing lucrative contracts for performances in Las Vegas, the Greek Theater in Los Angeles, and the Palace in New York.
Harry Belafonte - Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) (Live)
In addition to his musical achievements, Harry Belafonte was actively engaged in civil rights, film, and activism. In 1960, he made history as the first Black artist to receive an Emmy Award for his work on the musical special "Tonight With Belafonte," as reported by NBC News.
Harry Belafonte started to intensify his involvement with the civil rights movement, collaborating with Martin Luther King Jr. NBC News reported that the two first met in 1956 at an event in New York City for activists supporting reform in Montgomery, Alabama. Belafonte also worked alongside Senator John F. Kennedy during his presidential campaign in 1960, and after Kennedy's election, the 96-year-old activist acted as an intermediary between Attorney General Robert Kennedy and Martin Luther King Jr.
In 1963, Belafonte famously posted bail to release Martin Luther King Jr. from jail in Alabama, during a crucial time for the civil rights movement. Over time, Belafonte's relationship with Martin and his wife, Coretta Scott King, evolved into a close and cherished bond built on trust. Following Martin's assassination, Belafonte was appointed as the executor of his estate.
In her 1969 autobiography "My Life With Martin Luther King, Jr.," Coretta Scott King expressed her admiration for Harry Belafonte. She wrote, “Whenever we got into trouble, or when tragedy struck, Harry has always come to our aid, his generous heart wide open.”
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