Renowned American snger, actor and activist, Harry Belafonte, is dead. His longtime spokesperson, Ken Sunshine, announced on Tuesday that the versatile showbiz icon died of Congestive Heart failure.
Belafonte made his first mark on the American entertainment scene when racial segregation was the vogue. Despite making it a rarity for blacks to find a footing on the screen, he broke through and lept to the top following the footsteps of the legendary Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald and his other precursors.
In particular, Belafonte was an instant hit with his brand of folk music that took him above his other peers, black or white.
His ride on the billboard chart also broke all barriers, a feat that subsequently made him a reference point in the civil rights movement of the 50s and 60s.
Born to a West Indian immigrant in Harlem, Belafonte made Carribean music a rave with hits like “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” and “Jamaica Farewell.”, both songs tipping the album “Calypso,” to the top of the Billboard album chart shortly after its release in 1956. It was to remain on the chart top for 31 weeks even at a time Elvis Presley emerged on the scene.
Among others, Belafonte was an unusual concert crowd puller. A handsome dude by any measure, he also combined a persona with which he successfully held his audience spellbound every time. The ease with which he interpreted his folklore repertoire was another compelling attraction for him. That was the case with the ease he handily rendered songs like “Matilda”, “Lead Man Holler,” and the tender ballad, “Scarlet Ribbons.”
For his effort, Belafonte became the most highly paid and sought after black performer in history by 1959 with among others, scheduled contracts appearances in Vegas, Los Angeles and New York. His success in music resulted in multiple movies offers.
He soon became the first Black actor to achieve major success in Hollywood as a leading man. Albeit, his movie stardom was short-lived as another black icon, Sidney Poitier took over as the first bona fide movie idol.
Belafonte tuned to his primary love-music even though he still dabbled into movies every ones in a while. More than that, civil rights became his real love in the late 50s particularly as he became friend with and ardent supporter of the late Dr Martin Luther King Jnr.
Belafonte was part of the March on Washington in 1963. He it was who provided money to bail Dr. King and other civil rights activists when they were arrested. He also made his Manhattan apartment a home away from home for Rev King. That is beside quietly drawing up an insurance policy on Dr. King’s life, with King’s family as the beneficiary.
As a true friend of King, he also donated money to make sure that the family was taken care of after the civil right leader was assassinated in 1968. The gusture didn’t however, stop him from suing King’s three surviving children in 2013 over documents they claimed belonged to their father’s estate. The dispute was resolved in his favour.
