Harry Belafonte, a singer, actor, and civil rights activist, has died on the age of 96, his publicist Ken Sunshine confirmed to CNN.
Sunshine mentioned that Belafonte died Tuesday morning of congestive coronary heart failure.
“King Of Calypso” Dead At 96 From Congestive Heart Failure, Publicist Confirms
Nicknamed the “King of Calypso” following his 1956 hit track “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O),” Belafonte went on to turn out to be a film star after performing within the movie adaption of ‘Carmen Jones.’
Additionally, he was equally well-known for being an activist and a elementary supporter of the civil rights motion. Furthermore, he boldly jeopardized his profession in leisure for doing so.
Harry Belafonte And His Friendship With MLK
Belafonte ended up changing into a detailed pal of Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.. The two typically met on the singer’s New York condominium to strategize about civil rights points.
Growing up because the son of impoverished Jamaican dad and mom in Harlem helped form his political consciousness and contempt for injustice.
As widely known as he was for being an entertainer, Belafonte as soon as mentioned, “activism (comes) first.”
“I’ve often responded to queries that ask, ‘When as an artist did you decide to become an activist?’” he informed Dallas Morning News in 2011. “My response to the question is that I was an activist long before I became an artist. They both service each other, but the activism is first.”
Today, we honor trailblazing artist Harry Belafonte.
Beloved for his highly effective performances in “Carmen Jones” or “Kansas City,” Harry broke by limitations as a Black singer & actor and was a significant power within the Civil Rights Movement as one in every of MLK’s shut confidants🕊️ RIP Legend pic.twitter.com/BzUZiK5OhZ
— New York Film Academy (@NYFA) April 25, 2023
Belafonte’s Later Years, Awards, And Surviving Family
In his older years, Belafonte continued his profession in leisure, regardless of strolling with a cane. Additionally, he remained dedicated to racial and justice-related causes.
Belafonte was awarded the NAACP’s highest honor, the Spingarn Medal, in 2013, telling the viewers that “radical thinking and voices” are essential “to perfect our desire for greater democracy,” CNN experiences.
“America has never been moved to perfect our desire for greater democracy without radical thinking and radical voices being at the helm of any such quest,” he mentioned.
In 1989, Belafonte obtained a Kennedy Center Honor, a National Medal of Arts in 1994, and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2000.
He is survived by his spouse Pamela, his youngsters Adrienne Belafonte Biesemeyer, Shari Belafonte, Gina Belafonte, David Belafonte, two stepchildren, and eight grandchildren, in line with CNN.