Belafonte’s Legacy Lives On

Harry Belafonte, known for his distinctive style of folk music, made a profound impact on the pop charts and shattered racial barriers in the 1950s. He later became a significant figure in the civil rights movement.

On Tuesday, he passed away at the age of 96 in his Upper West Side home in Manhattan due to congestive heart failure, according to his spokesperson Ken Sunshine. Mr. Belafonte’s rise to fame was groundbreaking during a time of segregation when Black entertainers were still struggling to gain visibility in the industry.

While he was not the first Black entertainer to break through racial boundaries, he made a remarkable impact with hit songs like “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song)” and “Jamaica Farewell,” which ignited a craze for Caribbean music. His album “Calypso,” featuring these songs, topped the Billboard album chart in 1956 and held the position for 31 weeks.

Some even credit it as the first album by a single artist to sell more than a million copies. Mr. Belafonte’s legacy continues to inspire generations.