Horne, Lena (1917-2010), was an American singer and actress. She became famous for her beauty and as a popular singer of the blues. She developed a distinctive vocal style that ranged from a growl to a soft croon.
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was born on June 30, 1917, in New York City. At the age of 16, she became a chorus dancer at the Cotton Club in Harlem. In 1942, Horne became the first black performer to sign a long-term contract with a major Hollywood film studio. She gained attention with her rendition of the song “Stormy Weather” from the 1943 movie of the same name.
After the end of World War II in 1945, Horne became a major nightclub attraction in the United States and Europe. She appeared in a number of movie musicals during the 1940’s and 1950’s, including Cabin in the Sky (1943), Till the Clouds Roll By (1946), Words and Music (1948), and The Duchess of Idaho (1950). Horne also starred in the Broadway musical Jamaica (1957). She also wrote an autobiography, Lena (1963). In 1983, Horne received the Spingarn Medal in recognition of her achievements. Horne died on May 9, 2010.
