Prior to that, Buckley explains, roles for black actors in Hollywood were limited to domestic servants or jungle extras. In the year 1937, Lena married Luis Jordan Jones at the age of 20 and the couple was blessed with a daughter named Gail and a son named Edwin. It traces the saga - from post-Revolutionary War days through the Civil War and Reconstruction into the 20th century - of one stalwart black family. You may request to transfer up to 250,000 memorials managed by Find a Grave. Horne's grandmother Cora Calhoun Horne was well known in her community as an active supporter of many civil rights causes and took . Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the Urban League (a group that attended the Ethical Cultural School, the Girls High School, and a . Horne compensated, her daughter said, by building a hugely successful nightclub career. Death of a Gunfighter. In 1938, Ms. Horne starred in a quickie black musical film, The Duke Is Tops, for which she was never paid. All I wanted was to be kept by a very rich man - and what I really wanted was just to be with my father,'' perhaps an oblique explanation of her first marriage to a friend of her father's. and restaurants that catered exclusively to whites. Both parents had a mixed heritage of African American, European American and Native American descent. Ms. Horne was stuffed into one all-star film musical after another Thousands Cheer (1943), Broadway Rhythm (1944), Two Girls and a Sailor (1944), Ziegfeld Follies (1946), Words and Music (1948) to sing a song or two that, she later recalled, could easily be snipped from the movie when it played in the South, where the idea of an African-American performer in anything but a subservient role in a movie with an otherwise all-white cast was unthinkable. While Horne might not have shared that much about her civil rights work, she left her granddaughter with a powerful lesson about social justice. (1944), Brooklyn, New York ''It was my mother that wanted it. By age seven, her mother had reclaimed her, and, at age 16, Lena (who attended Girls High School in Brooklyn and took dance lessons while there) dropped out of school to join the chorus at the Cotton Club in Harlem. Translation on Find a Grave is an ongoing project. Her paternal grandparents, Edwin and Cora Horne, were early members of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, and in October 1919, at the age of 2, Lena was the cover girl for the organizations monthly bulletin. A radiantly beautiful sepia girl, he wrote, who will be a winner when she has proper direction., She had proper direction in two all-black movie musicals, both made in 1943. course and at age sixteen was hired to dance in the chorus at In 1973 and 1974 she toured England and the United States with Tony Thomas Jones, Lena Horne's grandson, in his role as a chef instructor today (Courtesy: French Culinary Institute) As the biography relates, Samadhi Jones was not always recognized as part of the family by her grandmother, believing the girl was not her son's daughter. special Tony award, and the soundtrack won two Grammy awards. As manager of this memorial you can add or update the memorial using the Edit button below. Her pride in her heritage, her refusal ", "Young people moving and walking and marching would thrill her," Lumet said. Barnet was one of the first bandleaders to integrate his band, but because of racial prejudice, Horne was unable to stay or socialize at many of the venues in which the orchestra performed, and she soon left the tour. She was a college graduate, a feminist, a civic leader and a suffragist. She used the word performer, not pianist. During a short time span from 1970 to 1971, she suffered personal tragedies with the deaths of her father, husband, and son, causing her for a period to go into a state of depression. I am pretty sure she is close knit with Gail and her grandchildren. Lena Horne's Story, As Told By Her Daughter | WBUR This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. attended various small-town, segregated (separated by race) In 1990, Ms. Horne reminisced: My only friends were the group of New Yorkers who sort of stuck with their own group like Vincente, Gene Kelly, Yip Harburg and Harold Arlen, and Richard Whorf the sort of hip New Yorkers who allowed Paul Robeson and me in their houses., Since blacks were not allowed to live in Hollywood, Felix Young, a white man, signed for the house as if he was going to rent it, Ms. Horne said. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. The Hornes owned a four-story residence in the Bedford-Stuyvesant area of Brooklyn. ", Astrological Sign: Cancer, Death Year: 2010, Death date: May 9, 2010, Death State: New York, Death City: New York, Death Country: United States, Article Title: Lena Horne Biography, Author: Biography.com Editors, Website Name: The Biography.com website, Url: https://www.biography.com/musicians/lena-horne, Publisher: A&E; Television Networks, Last Updated: March 26, 2021, Original Published Date: April 2, 2014. Lena Horne - Death, Songs & Children - Biography As a young woman, Lumet, now 54, once complained to her grandmother, who lived in New York City, about a bad boyfriend and asked, "Grandma, do men ever change?" She participated in the March on Washington in 1963, performed The ban had eased by the mid-1950s, and Horne returned to the screen in the 1956 comedy Meet Me in Las Vegas, though she would not act in another film for more than a decade. To use this feature, use a newer browser. Please try again. But as the group's only black member she All Rights Reserved. My life has been about surviving. and make their situations in life better. Given these harsh limitations imposed on African Americans in 1930s and Her return to movies was on a grander scale. '', For her part, Mrs. Buckley said, beaming back at her mother, ''I loved finding the little girl in you; learning about the things you had never talked about before, for example that all your favorite books were about orphans. Im me, and Im like nobody else., Lena Horne, Singer and Actress, Dies at 92, https://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/arts/music/10horne.html. made her a legendary figure. But when MGM made Show Boat into a movie for the second time, in 1951, the role of Julie was given to a white actress, Ava Gardner, whose singing voice was dubbed. "That people would keep dying is the stuff that stays the same, and that we would keep needing people to do the work.". This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. released her first album in a decade, Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Horne also published her own memoir, Lena, in 1965. Among its more fascinating members were these: * Moses Calhoun, who was freed from slavery after the Civil War at age 36 and became a restaurateur in Atlanta. Actress (Finished 2010) Singer (Finished 2010) Dancer (Finished 2010) After Lena's parents divorced when she was little, she was primarily raised by her grandmother Cora. Immediately, her father, Teddy Horne -- a notorious gambler who made his money in the 1921 Black Sox scandal -- flew to Hollywood to talk with MGM's management. In Horne's one-woman Broadway show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, she openly discussed the discrimination she faced as a performer in Hollywood. Lena Horne, born in 1917, was a famous singer and civil rights activist who famously attended the March on Washington and refused to perform for segregated audiences of troops during World War II. In 1991, she was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame. Horne responded, "No," and left the room to make herself a sandwich. "It was an imitation of a white woman, and she said that. After signing a seven-year contract with MGM Studios, she moved to Hollywood. She is survived by her daughter; Gail Lumet Buckley; six grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren. She still performed primarily in posh nightclubs around the country as well as Europe and was also able to make some TV appearances. secretarial school. Lena Horne, in full Lena Calhoun Horne, (born June 30, 1917, Brooklyn, N.Y., U.S.died May 9, 2010, New York City), American singer and actress who first came to fame in the 1940s. She also assisted Eleanor Roosevelt (18841962) in her She is survived by her daughter Gail Lumet Buckley, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren. Her parents separated when she was three, and because her mother traveled as part of various theater troupes, Horne lived with her grandparents for a time. ", Ms. Horne first achieved fame in the 1940s, became a nightclub and recording star in the 1950s and made a triumphant return to the spotlight with a one-woman Broadway show in 1981. depression from which she emerged seemingly more determined than ever. Lena Horne celebrates her 64th birthday on the stage of the Nederlander Theater in New York City after the evening's performance of "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. ''. In 1997, on the occasion of her eightieth birthday, Horne was honored Chelsea, MI: Scarborough House, 1991. But it also, as Mrs. Buckley put it, sheds light on ''America's historic family secret, the story of black life that has never been told: that of the typical black middle-class family, the black bourgeoisie. 1940s Hollywood movies, Horne's film career is impressive. Lena Horne's Story, As Told By Her Daughter - NPR Palmer, Leslie. on behalf of Japanese Americans who faced discrimination. Lena Horne was raised mainly by her paternal grandparents. Yet, she still moved a great deal in her early years because her mother often took her with her on the road. She broke through racial barriers as the first black performer to sign a long-term contract with a major Hollywood studio. In the 1940s, Horne became the first African American to tour with an all-white band, led by saxophonist Charlie Barnet, according to the Kennedy Center. At the age of 12 in 1929, Horne moved to New York with his mother and attended a school in Brooklyn which was simply named the Girls High School. end discrimination based on race). But her career, which spanned more than 60 years and consisted of mainly bit parts, ended on a high note: In 1981, she received a Tony Award for her one-woman Broadway show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. There will be no more jungle movies. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. Failed to delete memorial. Several years ago, Lena Horne asked her daughter, Gail Lumet Buckley, to store in her basement an old family trunk that had belonged to Miss Horne's father. entertainment manager John Hammond, who got her a long engagement at the At age seventy-six she She was also a member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and was a major face of the civil rights movement in the country at the time. This is a digitized version of an article from The Timess print archive, before the start of online publication in 1996. Use the links under See more to quickly search for other people with the same last name in the same cemetery, city, county, etc. "The technology aspect would make her so happy, that they've created original platforms for themselves. Harlem's famed Cotton Club. should have higher goals. Her mother, Edna, was an actress Family Disapproved. She was 92. This was not quite true: as Mr. Gavin has documented, she appeared frequently on Your Show of Shows and other television shows in the 1950s, and in fact found more acceptance on television than almost any other black performer. And Mr. Gavin and others have suggested that there were other factors in addition to politics or race involved in her lack of film work. left the family when Lena was three. When screenwriter Jenny Lumet thinks of her maternal grandmother, singer and civil rights activist Lena Horne, she remembers that she used to eat Snickers with a fork and knife. "The murder of people of color is the open secret of the United States of America," Lumet added. mission for antilynching legislation (laws making it illegal to hang a However, she continued to work in nightclubs as an entertainer till the ban was lifted in 1956. I had no communication with anybody. "Take scissors and snip snip when it got south of the Mason-Dixon Line. "The fact that it ran for so long and that Black people came in droves, I think that was the reward," Lumet said. Stormy Weather Writing the book, she said, ''made me feel two things I have never felt before: incredibly American and incredibly black, and there is nothing else that I could possibly be.''. She doesn't need to play a maid,' " said Buckley. In the year 1978, Horne finally bade goodbye to her career as an actress with the film The Wiz in which she starred alongside such stars as Diana Ross and Michael Jackson. Username and password are case sensitive. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. accept. She also co-starred with Mexican actor Ricardo Montalban in the popular Broadway musical Jamaica, running from 1957-59. Haskins, James, and Kathleen Benson. Words and Music Include gps location with grave photos where possible. But her career, which spanned more than 60 years and consisted of mainly bit parts, ended on a high note: In 1981, she received a Tony Award for her one-woman Broadway show, Lena Horne: The. Lena Horne: Singer, Actress, Activist - ThoughtCo Their interracial marriage would be kept a secret for three years due to the likelihood of a backlash. cemeteries found in will be saved to your photo volunteer list. (1944), and a musical biography of Rodgers and Hart, Which memorial do you think is a duplicate of Lena Horne (52189627)? Born on June 30, 1917 Lena Horne was the daughter of Edwin Fletcher Horne Junior and Edna Louise Scrotton in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. family, with several members holding college degrees and distinguished In 1941, she returned to New York to work at the Caf Society nightclub, popular with both Black and white artists and intellectuals. ", Horne picks up flowers on stage of the Nederlander Theater in New York City after her last performance of "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music.". There are no volunteers for this cemetery. New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1989. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Lena Calhoun Horne was born in Brooklyn, New York, to Edna Scottron and Edwin "Teddy" Horne on June 30, 1917. ", These moments that you think, Wow, this is history, it was just her life.. Lena Horne. I began to feel depressed about it, wasted emotionally. Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, Looking back at the age of 80,. late 1940s she sued a number of restaurants and theaters for race Thanks for your help! performermuch against the wishes of her family, who felt she Her success as an actress was also recognised when she became a member of the board of the Screen Actors Guild. Lena Horne - Trivia, Family, Bio | Famous Birthdays Lena Horne was born in Brooklyn, New York, on June 30, 1917. "I'm really proud that people might find a spark of creativity in a space. Stormy Weather, a well-received biography of Horne's life, was published in 2009 and written by James Gavin. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. Drag images here or select from your computer for Lena Horne memorial. Horne was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn. Lennie Hayton's death in 1971, which followed the deaths of Oops, we were unable to send the email. We may earn commission from links on this page, but we only recommend products we back. * Cora Calhoun Horne, Edwin's third wife, who played a major role in raising Lena Horne. Lena Horne Biography - Facts, Childhood, Family Life & Achievements 2. Although she had an outstanding career in Hollywood, it was much later in life that she produced her best work. Horne's rendition of the title song for Weather would become her signature tune, one she would perform countless times over the decades via her live performances. A long run at the Savoy-Plaza Hotel nightclub in 1943 gave Hornes career a boost. "Whether you were disturbed by her, you were in love with her, confused by her, whatever it was she made you think about what was inside you. Her parents separated when she was a child, and she lived with her paternal grandparents and uncle. Lena in Concert, Lena Mary Calhoun Horne, Helena Horne Birth Place Brooklyn, New York, USA Born June 30, 1917 Died May 09, 2010 Biography Read More One of the greatest American artists of all time, Lena Horne endured more than her fair share of "Stormy Weather" as the title of her 1943 film and sultry signature song implied. Edit a memorial you manage or suggest changes to the memorial manager. And while she was at it, Miss Horne said, ''You might take a look in it. In her teens, she started singing in New York City's Cotton Club, which had a strictly white audience, and she went on to have a Tony-winning one-woman show, "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music," on Broadway in the '80s. She could never be in anything that furthered the plot or was a crucial moment in the movie.". It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it. There will be no more old plantation movies. The daughter went on to become writer. Born: June 30, 1917 the United States), she used her own money to travel and entertain the I am a 51 yr old woman that grew up watching the wonderful old movies. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. And they said, Youre not going to be allowed to go anyplace anymore under our auspices. So from then on I was labeled a bad little Red girl.. IE 11 is not supported. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? "He said, 'I can afford to hire a maid for my daughter. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. She refused to take on any roles that were disrespectful to her Sorry! Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. Horne credited Duke Ellington collaborator Billy Strayhorn, the esteemed songwriter/pianist, as being largely responsible for her vocal training, and the two enjoyed a close friendship. she said. There are a lot of interesting things in there. As Thousands Cheer Lena Calhoun Horne was born June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. daughter, Gail, and a son, Edwin (they separated in This is just a little unknown tea. ''There were photographs, letters, bills, notes, letters, including one from Benjamin Harrison, speakeasy tickets, gambling receipts, college diplomas. Showing Editorial results for family and friends attend services for entertainer lena horne. Wrong username or password. I had to learn a lot. Oops, something didn't work. person accused of a crime without a trial). If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. She was not the first black performer under contract to a major studio MGM had signed the actress Nina Mae McKinney for five years in 1929 but she was the first to make an impact. The acclaimed, emotionally searing production ran on Broadway for 14 months, then toured in the United States and abroad. Lena Horne | American singer and actress | Britannica Quickly see who the memorial is for and when they lived and died and where they are buried. Directed by Horne's then son-in-law, Sidney Lumet, the film was a version of The Wizard of Oz that featured an entirely African American cast, including Michael Jackson and Diana Ross. In the year 1938 she was featured in a musical known as The Duke in Tops, however it was a production made on a low budget and did not much further her career as an actress. "It was exciting (for her) and it was terrifying," she remembered. They lived in various parts of the Hearst Magazine Media, Inc. Site contains certain content that is owned A&E Television Networks, LLC. ), In 1945 the critic and screenwriter Frank S. Nugent wrote in Liberty magazine that Ms. Horne was the nations top Negro entertainer. In addition to her MGM salary of $1,000 a week, she was earning $1,500 for every radio appearance and $6,500 a week when she played nightclubs. Thank you for fulfilling this photo request. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. Actress and singer Adelaide Hall, who was also a part of the project, became her earliest mentor in the industry. The Lena and Judy Show Horne and Judy Garland had many things in common: a long tenure at MGM, a mentor and vocal coach in Kay Thompson, andsome saidan intimate relationship with Vincente. While at MGM, her appearances in movies were shot so that they could be Her father ran a gambling operation and was well off while her mother worked as a theatre actress who performed at theatres all over the United States. But though the family would embody antebellum behavior and solidly middle-class values for many decades, it also included rugged individualists, outspoken civil rights activists, poets, entrepreneurs and politicians.
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