American singer and activist Harry Belafonte has died at the age of 96, his spokesperson has confirmed. The New York-born singer not only took pop and folk music by storm, but also became a powerful force in the civil rights movement.
He died on Tuesday at his Manhattan home after congestive heart failure, said spokesman Ken Sunshine. He was known for hit songs such as Day-O and Jamaica Farewell, with his album Calypso topping the billboard album chart after its release in 1956.
He became a huge name when segregation was still widespread and Black faces were not often seen on screen. He became one of the biggest stars of his era.
By 1959 he was the most highly paid Black performer in history, the Mirror reports. He had shows in Las Vegas, and well known venues such as the Greek Theatre in Los Angeles and the Palace in New York.
As well as singing, he also became a successful Hollywood actor for a brief time. He continued to perform into the 21st century, and to appear in movies as well, but his primary focus from the late 1950s was civil rights.
Not only was he close to the likes of Martin Luther King Jr, but he also stumped up large amounts of his personal wealth towards the civil rights movement.
