Renowned singer and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte has died at age 96. The New York Times reported Belafonte’s cause of death was congestive heart failure.
Born Harold George Bellanfanti Jr. on March 1, 1927 in Harlem, New York, Belafonte spent part of his childhood living with his grandmother in her native Jamaica. He attended high school in New York City and after graduating fought in World War II as a member of the U.S. Navy.
Upon returning to New York, in the mid-1940s Belafonte began his entertainment career as an actor, and by 1954 had been nominated for a Tony Award for his role in the Broadway production of John Murray Anderson’s Almanac.
Belafonte’s music career began in the early-1950s when he began singing in jazz clubs around New York City, performing with the likes of Charlie Parker and Miles Davis and landing gigs at such renowned venues as The Village Vanguard. He signed a recording contract with RCA Victor in 1953 and that year released his debut single for the label, introducing the world to calypso music via the song “Matilda.”
In 1956, Belafonte released his third album, Calypso, and it became the first LP to sell one million copies in the United States. The album presented what went on to be his signature hit, “Banana Boat Song (Day-O),” as well as other favorites “Jamaica Farewell” and “Man Smart, Woman Smarter.”
Belafonte continued releasing new albums through the 1950s and 1960s. His final album for RCA Victor was 1973’s Play Me. Belafonte’s first release for Columbia Records was his 1977 album, Turn the World Around. A second album for Columbia, Loving You Is Where I Belong, followed in 1981. Belafonte’s final album, Paradise in Gazankulu, was issued by EMI in 1988.
Belafonte credited fellow entertainer Paul Robeson with mentoring his activism. In the 1960s Belafonte was an outspoken advocate for the Civil Rights movement, working side by side with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and others. Belafonte financially supported the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee involved in the 1964 Freedom Summer campaign.
Belafonte’s activism continued throughout the rest of his life as he became involved in Anti-Apartheid Movement and helped found USA For Africa. Belafonte spearheaded the all-star 1987 single, “We Are The World,” which brought together dozens of pop stars to record the charity track.
Belafonte worked closely with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) and for over 35 years served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador. He was also involved in various anti-war efforts, showed support for the LGBTQ+ community, worked for women’s rights and participated in other humanitarian support efforts.
In addition to his ongoing activism, Belafonte’s acting career saw continued success in parallel with his music career. Belafonte appeared in several popular feature films between 1953’s Bright Road with Dorthy Dandridge and his 2018 appearance in Spike Lee’s BlacKkKlansman.
In 1989, Belafonte was bestowed the prestigious Kennedy Center Honors. In 1994, he was given the National Medal of Arts. In addition to winning an Emmy Award and Tony Award, Belafonte earned three Grammy Awards and was honored with the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
In 2022, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame inducted Belafonte as an Early Influence. According to the Rock Hall:
Drawing from many musical traditions, 2022 Inductee Harry Belafonte’s lyrical baritone and magnetic charisma connected Americans to Black world culture. After chart-topping success as the million-selling “King of Calypso,” Belafonte became a pioneering singer, actor, producer, activist, and ally, using the arts as a mechanism to effect social change on a global scale, from his essential role in the Civil Rights movement to the formation of USA For Africa.
