Harry Belafonte, the legendary activist, singer and actor, died of congestive coronary heart failure Tuesday at his house in Manhattan. He was 96.

His dying was confirmed by his spokesperson, Ken Sunshine, in keeping with The Washington Publish. Belafonte overcame all odds when he joined the higher echelon of present enterprise along with his unimaginable voice. He was classically untrained, but managed to realize nice vary along with his unimaginable, signature voice. The proficient star was a key ally of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. after the discharge of “The Banana Boat Music,” in keeping with The Washington Publish.

Breaking Information: Harry Belafonte, the barrier-breaking singer, actor and activist who grew to become a significant drive within the civil rights motion, has died at 96. https://t.co/LTpfanpUDq pic.twitter.com/7aUl89rLzA

— The New York Occasions (@nytimes) April 25, 2023

He belted out the lyric “Day-O!” from “The Banana Boat Music” as he rose to worldwide stardom. Belafonte used his revenue to bankroll the civil rights motion and human rights causes that had been close to and pricey to his coronary heart, in keeping with The Washington Publish.

He was the primary Black man to win a Tony Award on Broadway, and simply six years later, he grew to become the primary African American producer to obtain an Emmy Award, for “Tonight With Belafonte,” a CBS particular offered Black American historical past by music (RELATED: Well-known Ok-Pop Artist Moon Bin Discovered Useless In His House At Age 25)

Belafonte’s 1956 album “Calypso” offered greater than 1 million copies, which briefly rivaled Elvis Presley on the music charts.