A singer, dancer and actress, Lena Horne joined the chorus line of The Cotton Club in 1933 and was discovered by MGM producers while working in a nightclub in 1941. Performing in numerous film musicals until she became disenchanted with Hollywood in the early 1950's. Her departure became far more complete when she was blacklisted during the Red Scare of Joseph McCarthy's attempt to clean up the subversives in the arts. But she was always the activist. While performing in USO shows during World War II, she refused to perform before a segregated audience or any in which German POWs were seated in front of Black Servicemen.
She appeared on almost everyone's variety TV shows throughout the 60's and 70's, and many of the biggest names of Hollywood and Broadway counted themselves among her close friends. From 1961 to 1995 she won 8 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989. And I will never forget her when she appeared on both
Sesame Street and
The Muppets.
Le Petite Mort earns 8 points for their pick.
Lena Horne
June 13, 1917 - May 9, 2010
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