Harry Belafonte, the singer and actor who brought calypso music to the mainstream in the 1950s and used his platform to become a prominent civil rights activist, has died. He was 96.

“Harry Belafonte’s accomplishments are legendary and his legacy of outspoken advocacy, compassion, and respect for dignity will endure forever,” wrote US president Joe Biden in a Twitter tribute.

Harry Belafonte, 1927–2023

Born in Harlem in 1927 to Jamaican parents, Belafonte grew up in poverty and experienced racial discrimination from an early age. He served in the Navy during World War II and began his entertainment career as a jazz singer in the 1940s. However, it was his unique blend of calypso and folk music that made him a sensation in the 1950s.

Belafonte’s breakout hit was “The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)” in 1956, which became his signature tune and introduced the world to the upbeat rhythms of calypso. He went on to have numerous other hits, including “Jamaica Farewell,” “Matilda,” and “Jump in the Line,” and became one of the best-selling musicians of his time.

Belafonte’s influence extended far beyond the music industry, however. A passionate advocate for civil rights, he...