Harry Belafonte Dead at 96: Singer and Civil Rights Activist’s Cause of Death Revealed
usmagazine.comHarry Belafonte died on Tuesday, April 25. He was 96.The legendary singer and actor’s death was caused by congestive heart failure, his representative Ken Sunshine told The New York Times.The New York native rose to fame in the 1950s with Caribbean-influenced singles like “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” and “Jamaica Farewell.” His album Calypso was one of the first by a solo artist to go platinum, selling over 1 million copies.
While known for calypso music, Belafonte also impressed audiences with blues, folk songs and American standards.In order to view the video, please allow Manage CookiesAs he was launching his music career, he was also acting in films.
He and Dorothy Dandridge starred in 1953’s Bright Road and 1954’s Carmen Jones, which skyrocketed his star status.While the Tony and Emmy winner enjoyed dominating both the music charts and the box office, Belafonte made it clear that his true passion was as a civil rights activist.“The portion of my life that is of importance to me has to do with my activism,” he told the Dallas Morning News in 2011. “I’ve often responded to queries that ask, ‘When as an artist did you decide to become an activist?’ 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.”When he guest-hosted The Tonight Show in 1968, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
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