April 25, 2023 /Entertainment/ — Harry Belafonte was an American singer, actor, and activist. He was born in New York City on March 1, 1927, and died on April 25, 2023. He was one of the most successful Caribbean-American pop stars, and he popularized the Trinbagonian Calypso musical style with an international audience in the 1950s. His breakthrough album Calypso (1956) was the first million-selling LP by a single artist.

Belafonte is best known for his recordings of “The Banana Boat Song”, with its signature “Day-O” lyric, “Jump in the Line”, and “Jamaica Farewell”. He has recorded and performed in many genres, including blues, folk, gospel, show tunes, and American standards. He has also starred in several films, including Carmen Jones (1954), Island in the Sun (1957), and Odds Against Tomorrow (1959).

Belafonte was a vocal activist for civil rights and social justice. He was a close confidant of Martin Luther King Jr., and he performed at many civil rights rallies and marches. He was also a founding member of the Freedom Singers, a group of singers who used their music to raise awareness of the civil rights movement.

Belafonte was a recipient of numerous awards, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. He was a true legend, and his music and activism will continue to inspire people for generations to come.

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