Remembering Harry Belafonte: A Trailblazer in Music and Civil Rights

Harry Belafonte, the iconic singer and civil rights activist, has passed away at the age of 96 due to congestive heart failure. Belafonte rose to fame in the 1950s with hits like "Banana Boat (Day-O)" and "Jamaica Farewell" and was the first artist to sell over a million copies of an LP with his album "Calypso." He went on to have a decades-long career in music, television, and film and was awarded numerous accolades, including Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony Awards. Belafonte was also a vocal supporter of the Civil Rights Movement and helped organize the 1963 March on Washington. He was an advocate for causes such as the anti-Apartheid movement, women's rights, juvenile justice, and climate change, and served as an ambassador for UNICEF and the American Civil Liberties Union. Belafonte is survived by his wife and four children.