Lena Horne (1917–2010,) fully Lena Calhoun Horne, was an American singer and actress. She was the first African American to have a long-term contract with a Hollywood studio.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Horne made her début at the legendary Cotton Club, aged 16, but gradually switched from dancing to band singing. In 1942, she became the first black singer to win a contract from a major Hollywood company (MGM,) appearing in Cabin in the Sky (1943,) Stormy Weather (1943,) and Till the Clouds Roll By (1946.) The latter became her signature song and provided the perfect vehicle for her deep, sensual voice with its bluesy edge. In 1981–82, she starred on Broadway in Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music.
Horne also was noted for her work with civil rights and political organizations. As an actress, she refused to play roles that stereotyped African American women. She described the impact of racism in her two memoirs, In Person (1950) and Lena (1965.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Lena Horne
Always be smarter than the people who hire you.
—Lena Horne
Topics: Intelligence
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