Artist: Lena HorneLP: Lena Horne
Born in Brooklyn on June 30, 1917, Lena Horne celebrates her 92nd birthday today! She appeared in Hollywood musicals of the 1940s like the wacky Red Skelton/Ann Sothern vehicle PANAMA HATTIE in 1942 and the wonderfully strange CABIN IN THE SKY in 1943 (which blew me away when I absent-mindedly stumbled upon it playing in the ship-board cinema during a family cruise vacation back in 1984). You can read about the exciting life and career of Lena Horne here, see her perform "Stormy Weather" from the 1943 film of the same name here and you can watch her sing the ABCs with some Muppets right here. Notes from the back of this 1958 LP:
LENA HORNE — With orchestra conducted by Phil Moore
There are some who will heatedly argue that Lena Horne
is the greatest entertainer in show business today. This
may very well be so. But no one can deny that Miss
Horne is something very, very special. From New York
to London, from Las Vegas to Paris, all have thrilled to
the artistry of this beautiful and elegant lady.
The star was born in Brooklyn. At sixteen, she got her
first singing job in the chorus of the legendary Cotton Club.
Noble Sissle played there, heard Lena, and immediately
hired her as vocalist for his band. Two years later, she
auditioned for Charlie Barnet and got the job. Miss Horne
sang her way across the country and in Hollywood, L.B.
Mayer signed her to do two pictures—first "Panama Hattie"
and then "Cabin In the Sky." These pictures won for Lena
a national prominence and she has gained a larger following
each year since. Now one of the best known entertainers
in the world, Lena Horne is at the pinnacle of her fame.
This album amply demonstrates what put her there.
[ Happy Birthday, Lena Horne! ]
There are some who will heatedly argue that Lena Horne
is the greatest entertainer in show business today. This
may very well be so. But no one can deny that Miss
Horne is something very, very special. From New York
to London, from Las Vegas to Paris, all have thrilled to
the artistry of this beautiful and elegant lady.
The star was born in Brooklyn. At sixteen, she got her
first singing job in the chorus of the legendary Cotton Club.
Noble Sissle played there, heard Lena, and immediately
hired her as vocalist for his band. Two years later, she
auditioned for Charlie Barnet and got the job. Miss Horne
sang her way across the country and in Hollywood, L.B.
Mayer signed her to do two pictures—first "Panama Hattie"
and then "Cabin In the Sky." These pictures won for Lena
a national prominence and she has gained a larger following
each year since. Now one of the best known entertainers
in the world, Lena Horne is at the pinnacle of her fame.
This album amply demonstrates what put her there.
[ Happy Birthday, Lena Horne! ]
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