THE BANANA Boat Song legend Harry Belafonte has died at 96 years old after a battle with illness, his family has confirmed.
The barrier-breaking singer died from congestive heart failure at his New York City home on Tuesday with his wife Pamela by his side, according to reports.
Alongside his illustrious music career, Belafonte was also an award-winning actor featuring in the film adaptation of the Broadway musical Carmen Jones, alongside his stance as a key civil rights activist.
Speaking after his death, his son David Belafonte told PEOPLE: "To the world he was a legend, but to us he was Dad, Harry, Farfar — which means Grandpa in Danish — and he will always mean the world to us. We are heartbroken to have lost such a big presence in our lives and we will honor him in everything we do.
"His legacy is passed on to his four children, Adrienne, Shari, David, and Gina, as well as his five grandchildren, Rachel Blue, Brian, Maria, Sarafina, and Amadeus, all of whom he was so incredibly proud of."
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Harry Belafonte pictured with Martin Luther King Jr
During the Civil Rights Movement, Harry Belafonte befriended Martin Luther King, Jr.
He supported voter registration drives and even helped organize the 1963 March on Washington.
Belafonte's early musical career
Born in New York City on March 1, 1927, Belafonte began his music career as a Midtown nightclub singer before performing to large crowds at the Village Vanguard jazz club in Greenwich Village.
A child of West Indian immigrants, he signed his first record deal with Roost Label in 1949 and quickly developed an interest in folk music.
His 1956 album, Calypso, shot him to stardom, reaching number one on the Billboard charts with hits like Day-O (The Banana Boat Song), Jamaica Farewell, and Jump in the Line.
Legendary singer Harry Belafonte dies
Harry Belafonte passed away on Tuesday at his home in Manhattan’s Upper West Side.
He was 96.
His seasoned spokesperson Ken Sunshine identified congestive heart disease as the root of the problem.
Tributes continue to flow in
Fans from all over are taking to Twitter to share their thoughts on the passing of legendary singer Harry Belafonte.
One fan wrote: "I am deeply sad at the loss of my very dear brother - the great Harry Belafonte! His artistic genius, moral courage & loving soul shall live forever! God bless his precious family!"
Another wrote: "We lost a giant, one of the greatest freedom fighters in the history of this nation. His life and legacy has impacted generations. Rest in Peace Harry Belafonte."
Heartbreaking last post
On Martin Luther King Jr. Day this year, Belafonte posted an old photo of him and his friend King.
The pair was all smiles in the black and white photo as they held hands and laughed together.
This picture, which he put on Facebook is now known as the singer’s last social media post.
Connections to other legends
Bob Dylan made his debut recording on the harmonica on Belafonte’s 1962 album Midnight Special.
Frank Sinatra had recruited Belafonte to play at John F. Kennedy’s inauguration the year before.
Fans continue to mourn legend
Fans of the iconic late singer Harry Belafonte are flooding Twitter with tributes.
One fan wrote: "Your immeasurable impact on generations will never be forgotten."
Another wrote: "Love Harry Belafonte! He was always loved in my family growing up."
Harry Belafonte’s love life, concluded
Harry Belafonte married Pamela Frank in 2008 and they were together up until his 2023 passing.
Outside of being known as Belafonte’s widow, she is known for her career as a photographer.
Despite a high-profile marriage, not much is known about Frank’s personal life because she often stays out of the spotlight.
Harry Belafonte’s love life, continued
In March of 1957, Harry Belafonte married his second wife, Julie Robinson.
They had two children together, David and Gina.
After 47 years of marriage, Harry and Julie got divorced.
About Harry Belafonte's first marriage
Harry Belafonte was married to Marguerite Byrd from 1948 to 1957.
Together they had two daughters: Adrienne and Shari Belafonte.
The couple separated while Marguerite was pregnant with Shari.
Harry Belafonte's cause of death revealed
Harry Belafonte has died at 96 years old.
The barrier-breaking singer died from congestive heart failure at his New York City home on Tuesday.
His wife Pamela was by his side, according to reports.
What Harry did before entertainment
Harry Belafonte was born in working-class Harlem, New York, in 1927. He spent his early years in his parents’ poor homeland Jamaica for eight years.
He went back to New York to finish high school, but due to dyslexia, he left in his early adolescence.
He did odd jobs in the city’s garment area and marketplaces before enlisting in the US Navy at the age of 17 in March 1944 at a base in New Jersey.
After the war, he worked as a janitor’s helper, but after seeing performances at New York’s American Negro Theatre, he wanted to be an actor.
He sang folk, pop, and jazz tunes at New York club engagements, paying for acting lessons by being supported by ensembles that included Miles Davis and Charlie Parker.
Harry Belafonte on his friendship with Sidney Poitier
Harry Belafonte said of his friendship with Poitier: “For over 80 years, Sidney and I laughed, cried and made as much mischief as we could.”
He continued in a statement regarding Poitier’s death: “He was truly my brother and partner in trying to make this world a little better.
"He certainly made mine a whole lot better.”
More on the Poitier and Belafonte’ friendship
In 1946, Sidney Poitier and Harry Belafonte struck up a friendship while they both lived in New York and worked at The American Negro Theatre.
While taking on parts in stage production, Poitier was Belafonte’s understudy at one point.
On February 20, 2017, Belafonte tweeted Poitier a happy birthday while replying to a New York Times op-ed story about the two’s history.
The King of Calypso posted on Twitter: “Soul Brothers indeed! Happy birthday to my good friend, Sidney Poitier.”
Harry Belafonte was friends with Sidney Poitier
Harry Belafonte – who died April 25, 2023 – and Sidney Poitier, who died January 7, 2022 – had a lot in common.
Both were notable, groundbreaking black actors of a West Indian background in the Golden Era of Hollywood.
Even though their careers caused them to cross paths multiple times, the two actors met long before either one of them broke through the Hollywood mainstream.
Harry Belafonte made history
Belafonte went on to become the first black man to win a Tony Award for his acting in John Murray Anderson’s Almanac on Broadway.
He was also the first black man to win an Emmy, for his first solo TV special Tonight with Belafonte in 1959.
The mid-90s saw Belafonte perform with John Travolta, in White Man’s Burden.
He was also cast in Robert Altman’s film, Kansas City.
His most recent appearance was in 2018’s BlacKkKlansman, a film by Spike Lee, in which he played an elderly Civil Rights pioneer.
Harry Belafonte and Martin Luther King Jr's connection
Harry Belafonte's activism peaked during the Civil Rights Movement when he befriended Martin Luther King, Jr.
According to MLK's autobiography, Belafonte raised money to bail out King but also countless other supporters when they were locked up during the 1963 Birmingham campaigns.
He supported voter registration drives and even helped organize the 1963 March on Washington.
'Incredible soul' lost today
A fan took to Twitter to honor the legendary life of Harry Belafonte, they wrote: "The world lost an incredible soul today. Harry Belafonte is known for many things but his work as an activist for civil rights was truly remarkable."
They continued: "His words here in 1963 were just as true then as they are in 2023. Rest In Power, Mr. Belafonte."
The barrier-breaking singer died from congestive heart failure at his New York City home on Tuesday with his wife Pamela by his side, according to reports.
Former president remembers 'barrier-breaking legend'
Former president Barack Obama shared a tweet remembering Harry Belafonte as a "barrier-breaking legend."
"Harry Belafonte was a barrier-breaking legend who used his platform to lift others up," Obama wrote.
"He lived a good life – transforming the arts while also standing up for civil rights. And he did it all with his signature smile and style."
He concluded: "Michelle and I send our love to his wife, kids, and fans."
More on Belafonte's children
The iconic singer influenced three of his four children to pursue careers in the arts.
Two of his three daughters, Shari and Gina, and his son, David, all went into the entertainment field as performers and even production executives, according to AfroTech.
Adrienne, his oldest daughter, chose to pursue a different path.
Belafonte is survived by his four children, Shari, David, Gina and Adrienne, eight grandchildren, and his wife, Pamela Frank.
First time for everything
Belafonte went on to become the first black man to win a Tony Award for his acting in John Murray Anderson's Almanac on Broadway.
He was also the first black man to win an Emmy, for his first solo TV special Tonight with Belafonte in 1959.
His last appearance on the big screen was in 2018's BlacKkKlansman, a film by Spike Lee, in which he played an elderly Civil Rights pioneer.
Harry Belafonte reflected on society in his memoir
Looking back on his life and career, Harry Belafonte was proud but far from complacent.
"About my own life, I have no complaints,” he wrote in his autobiography.
"Yet the problems faced by most Americans of color seem as dire and entrenched as they were half a century ago."
Harry was involved with Joan Collins
In his 2011 memoir, My Song, Harry Belafonte wrote of his relationships and admitted to having extramarital affairs.
In her autobiography Passion for Life, actress Joan Collins opened up about her brief affair with Belafonte, who was married at the time, while the two were filming Island in the Sun.
"Although we had no scenes together, the all-British crew teased me relentlessly when they noticed how often Belafonte — who was married — threw me suggestive glances," Collins wrote.
"He was mesmerizing, and we soon began an affair, away from prying eyes, in my tiny apartment.
"But, after a few exciting liaisons, we knew we had to cool it. He went back to his wife and I moved on."
"Woe to the musician who missed his cue, or the agent who fouled up a booking," Belafonte wrote.
Harry spoke about a 'rebellious heart' in 2016
In 2016, Belafonte was stopped on the streets of Harlem by a group of teens who asked him what he was looking for at this stage of life.
“What I’ve always been looking for: Where resides the rebel heart?” Belafonte replied.
“Without the rebellious heart, without people who understand that there’s no sacrifice we can make that is too great to retrieve that which we’ve lost, we will forever be distracted with possessions and trinkets and title.”
Belafonte goes Hollywood
Harry Belafonte was known for his legendary music career but he also acted in multiple films as well.
Below is a list of some of the movies Harry Belafonte appeared in:
- Bright Road
- Buck and the Preacher
- Uptown Saturday Night
- White Man's Burden
- Kansas City
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