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Lena Horne

From Jone Johnson Lewis,
Your Guide to Women's History.
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Dates: (June 30, 1917 - )

Occupation: singer, actress

About Lena Horne: From Brooklyn, New York, Lena Horne was raised by her mother, an actress. Her grandmother was an activist who took Lena to the NAACP, the Urban League and the Ethical Culture Society.
At age 16 Lena began working at Harlem's Cotton Club, first as a dancer, then in the chorus and later as a solo singer. She began singing with orchestras, and, while singing with Charlie Barnet's (white) orchestra, she was discovered. From there she began playing clubs in Greenwich Village and then performed at Carnegie Hall.
Beginning in 1942 Lena Horne appeared in films, broadening her career to include movies, Broadway and recordings. She has been honored with many awards for her lifetime of success.

Lena Horne was married to Louis J. Jones from 1937 to 1944; they had two children. Later she married Lennie Hayton, from 1947 to his death in 1971.

Lena Horne's signature song, from a 1943 film of the same name, is "Stormy Weather."

Lena Horne published her memoirs in 1950 as In Person and in 1965 as Lena.

Places: New York, Harlem, United States
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Lena Horne movies:

  • 1938 - The Duke Is Tops
  • 1940 - Harlem On Parade
  • 1941 - Panama Hattie
  • 1942 - Boogie Woogie Dream
  • 1942 - G.I. Jubilee
  • 1943 - Cabin In The Sky
  • 1943 - Stormy Weather
  • 1943 - The Duke Is Tops
  • 1945 - Harlem Hot Shots
  • 1944 - Boogie Woogie Dream
  • 1944 - Hi-De-Ho Holiday
  • 1944 - My New Gown
  • 1946 - Jivin' The Blues
  • 1946 - Mantan Messes Up
  • 1946 - Till the Clouds Roll By
  • 1950 - Duchess of Idaho
  • 1956 - Meet Me in Las Vegas
  • 1969 - Death of a Gunfighter
  • 1978 - The Wiz!
  • 1994 - That's Entertainment III
  • 1994 - An Evening with Lena Horne

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