Harry Belafonte passed away in New York on Tuesday at the age of 96. The American singer, known for the hit Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)suffered from heart failure.
His spokesperson shared the news with The New York Times. Belafonte is seen as the one who popularized calypso music to a large audience. The singer, who grew up in New York, started his career as a jazz artist. He initially sang to pay for his acting lessons.
His first serious single was released in 1953, Matilda. His debut album was released three years later Calypso the first record in a year to sell more than one million copies. The hit followed in 1957 Island in the Sunwhich could also be heard in the film of the same name in which the singer appeared.
Belafonte made more than thirty albums in his career. The last – Paradise in Gazankulu – appeared in 1988. He was one of the first black actors to get major roles in Hollywood films. He appeared in more than thirty feature films. In 2018, he played another role in the film BlacKkKlansman.
The singer was also known for his fight for equal rights for people of color. For example, he was closely associated with Martin Luther King during the time of the American civil rights movement. Even at a later age he continued to work for human rights. He was seen several times during the New York pride.
2023-04-25 15:47:36
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