Usher has paid homage to singer, actor, and activist Harry Belafonte by getting a tattoo of the late leisure icon, who handed away earlier this week on the age of 96.
The Grammy-Award-winning singer debuted his new ink by way of Instagram on Wednesday (April 26), exhibiting off a big piece overlaying his forearm. A couple of of images and movies of the pair had been additionally included within the submit.
“A world-renowned entertainer. A barrier-breaking actor. A tireless activist. A one-of-a kind friend. Inspired is the word that comes to mind when I think about you Harry,” Usher started his caption.
“A man of great strength, courage, and sense of purpose. All things that I view as admirable. When I spent time with you…I was in awe of how your presence was so powerful. You’ve been called home after many, many years of gracing this world with your amazing spirit and incomparable gifts; however, your impact on the world will be forever present.”
He continued: “I’m grateful to have been blessed with the opportunity to have you in my life and I will miss you. May you rest peacefully knowing the legacy you’ve left behind.” Your ardour woke up our souls. The impression you made on my coronary heart is why I put on you on my pores and skin.”
Additionally, Usher captioned the picture with a quote from the late actor: “Artists are the gatekeepers of truth. We are civilization’s anchor. We are the compass for humanity’s conscience.”
Usher’s new tattoo serves as a reminder of his relationship with the late Carmen actor and his legacy — Belafonte handed away on Tuesday (April 25).
Belafonte’s longtime spokesperson, Ken Sunshine, advised The New York Times his reason behind loss of life was congestive coronary heart failure and that he handed away in his condo in New York City’s Upper West Side.
Born in Harlem to West Indian immigrant mother and father, Harry Belafonte piqued Western tradition’s curiosity in Caribbean music because of his 1956 smash hits “Jamaica Farewell” and “Day-O (The Banana Boat Song).”
Both tracks appeared on his Calypso LP, which topped Billboard’s Top Pop Albums chart for over 30 weeks. Calypso charted shortly earlier than Elvis Presley’s rise, and Belafonte is commonly cited to have the primary album by a single artist to promote greater than 1,000,000 copies.
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Usher isn’t the one to pay tribute to Harry Belafonte currently. Hip Hop legends got here out in droves to pay tribute to the late icon, with Questlove, DJ Premier, Chuck D, ninth Wonder, Swizz Beatz, Nick Cannon, Rapsody and dozens of others sharing their condolences on social media.
“Shining example of how to use your platform to make change in the world,” Questlove wrote on Instagram. “Hi$ activi$m was crucial for the civil rights movement. His activism was key in the anti-apartheid movement…If there is one lesson we can learn from him it is ‘what can I do to help mankind?’”
ninth Wonder added: “I had the great pleasure of talking and eating dinner with this man. We as entertainers owe him. We owe Hattie McDaniel. Sidney Poiter. Duke Ellington. Gwendolyn Brooks. So many.”
For his tribute submit, Preemo merely wrote: “R.I.P. Harry Belafonte. Thank you for all of your greatness to become just as great[.] ICON.”
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