MIAMI, United States. – Acclaimed American singer, actor and activist Harry Belafonte died Tuesday at the age of 96 at his home in New York, according to his representative Ken Sunshine.
Belafonte, born in Harlem on March 1, 1927, was a pioneer in breaking down racial barriers in the United States entertainment industry during the 1950s.
Official media of the Island they remembered this tuesday what belafonte had received, on behalf of the Cuban State, the Friendship Medal “in recognition of his trajectory of solidarity with the Island and his respect and admiration for the revolutionary process.”
In one of his visits to Havana, confusing the terms people and government, Belafonte assured that his support for the people of the Island was not “a supreme effort.” “It’s a way of life: if you believe in freedom, if you believe in justice, if you believe in democracy, if you believe in the rights of the people, if you believe in the harmony of all humanity,” he said.
Raised in a humble family, Belafonte spent his childhood in Jamaica with his grandparents before returning to New York in 1940. After serving in the Navy, he turned to acting and began his career on the stage, where he became known as “the Marlon.” Brando of color”. His music career took off when he performed at a venue for promoter Monty Kaye, which led to his signing with RCA Victor.
Belafonte achieved world fame with his album Calypso in 1956, which included hits like Day-O (The Banana Boat Song) and jamaican farewell. In addition to her successful music career, she has also starred in movies like Carmen Jones (1954) and Island in the Sun (1957), and is one of the few EGOT artists in the United States, that is, who have won at least one Emmy, one Grammy, one Oscar and one Tony.
In addition to his successful career in show business, Belafonte was a fervent activist for civil rights. He was a personal friend of Martin Luther King Jr. and participated in the historic 1963 March on Washington. He was also a cultural advisor to the Peace Corps created by President John F. Kennedy and co-founded a production company with Sidney Poitier to support African-American actors and technicians. in the film industry.
Belafonte was named a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador in 1987. In 2014, the Hollywood Academy awarded him an honorary Oscar.
The artist was married three times and had four children.
