Lena Horne Dies at 92
By SAMPURNTuesday, May 11, 2010
May 11, 2010 (Sampurn Wire): American actress, singer, and dancer, Lena Horne, celebrated for her beauty and sexy voice, died in New York this past weekend. Horne was 92 and lived in Manhattan. Her death was announced by her son-in-law Kevin Buckley.
In a career spanning more than 60 years, Horne battled racism and became Hollywood’s first black sex symbol. She played Selina Rogers in the all black film musical Stormy Weather in 1943. The title song of the musical became a huge hit and her signature tune.
She was best known for her singing and showcased that in more nightclubs, on Broadway and on TV variety shows, including ‘The Ed Sullivan Show’ and ‘The Judy Garland Show.’
In 1981, Horne’s one-woman show, The Lady and her Music, based on her life and career, ran for more than a year on Broadway and in London. She won several Grammy awards over her career and received a best actress Tony nomination for the musical ‘Jamaica.’
Horne’s contribution to civil rights movement is remarkable. In 1941, she sang at Cafe Society and worked with Paul Robeson, a singer who also combated American racial discrimination.
-Sampurn Wire
