Influential actor and civil rights activist Harry Belafonte died Tuesday from congestive heart failure in his wife’s arms. Survived by his wife, daughters, son, and grandchildren, Belafonte passed away at 96.

Born in Harlem on March 1, 1927, Belafonte was sent away by his mother to her homeland Jamaica. Many years later, he would return to New York and enlist in the U.S. Navy before he was honorably discharged. Belafonte searched for various jobs before being drawn to the Dramatic Worksop of the New York School of Social Research. While there, he was tutored by German director Erwin Piscator and learned alongside Marlon Brando, Walter Mattau, and Tony Curtis as classmates.

With calypso as his signature sound, Belafonte made his mark in music history through his Grammy-winning songs and albums. His signature tune, “Banana Boat (Day-O),” reached number five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1957 and number two in the U.K. Overall, he recorded half a dozen gold albums in the U.S. that ranked in the Top 10, one of which was a 1962 disc called The Midnight Special with then-newcomer Bob Dylan on the harmonica.

Not only did Belafonte become a well-renowned Carribbean-American musician, but he also became one of the first Black leading men in Hollywood. Belafonte starred in several films, including Bright Road, Buck and the Preacher, and Uptown Saturday Night, the latter two co-starring with his close friend Sidney Poitier. He would later start producing films and television, including his Emmy-winning CBS show Tonight with Belafonte. As a result, he would also be nominated for four Emmies in his lifetime.

Throughout his career, Belafonte used his status to help fight for civil rights, from working with Martin Luther King Jr to advocating for Nelson Mandela’s release from prison. His work as a musician helped pave the way for international recognition of African music stars Hugh Maskela and Miriam Makeba. Belafonte and manager Ken Kragen are credited with helping direct the USA for Africa project, which would lead him to become a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador, the second American to do so.

His impact on humanitarian aid and entertainment will immortalize Belafonte and his incredible work.