Lena Horne. Stormy Weather, Stormy Life. Dead at 92

Jazz icon Lena Horne died at age 92. What a jazz singer. What a beauty. But Lena Horne did not come without her own brand of Stormy Weather. Her signature song definitely could have been at least a subtitle to her life. For all the ups in her career, there is a generation or two that can't possibly know the Stormy Weather that this jazz singing great went through.

Born June 30th, 1917 Lena Horne was pushed into entertainment by her mother. Her mother actually got Lena a job at age 16 in the chorus of the famed Harlem Cotton Club. At this tender age, Lena Horne became the bread winner of the family. Making $25.00 a week.

Her career started to bloom when MGM signed her. But Lena Horne had her own idea of what fame should cost. In her contract with MGM, she was explicit in her wishes not to be stereo typed in roles. Lena Horne was so light skinned that Max Factor actually made a makeup called "Little Egyptian" to darken her skin for a movie. Some of the movies she was in included: Panama Hattie, Stormy Weather, Cabin in the Sky, Thousands Cheer and Till the Clouds Roll By.

In the 40s Lena wasn't singing much to mixed audiences. She fought for the right to perform for mixed audiences. In the 50s the name Lena Horne could be found blacklisted. Her association with a man called Paul Robeson was one reason and the belief that Horne was a "Communist Sympathizer" was another.

Lena Horne suffered the loss of her Father, husband and son all in one year. She spent her life entertaining people with her amazing style of singing jazz. She also spent a life time knowing that she was equal to everyone else and trying to teach that to others.

One of my favorite quotes is " It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it." Lena Horne carried her load well.

Go here to enjoy a great sampling of songs sung by Lena Horne. She was one of the greats. Stormy Weather will never by sung better than when it came from Lena Horne's lips. Stormy Weather brought her to fame and in some ways, Stormy Weather was a part of life for her.

more by this contributor here
source: for more on Lena Horne go here