Jazz star Lena Horne has passed away in New York at the age of 92.
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was born on June 30, 1917 in Brooklyn. She was the first black performer to be signed to a long-term Hollywood contract.At 16 she was in the chorus of the famed New York nightclub the Cotton Club.
In 1942, she made her MGM debut with the movie ‘Panama Hattie’ and in 1943 sang the title song for the now classic ‘Stormy Weather’.
Horne was featured in the musical ‘Zeigfeld Follies’ but lost the lead part in ‘Show Boat’ to Ava Gardner.
When television happened, Horne was a regular on variety shows. She appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Judy Garland Show and The Andy Williams Show.
She also played herself in the television shows Sanford and Sons, The Cosby Show, A Different World and The Muppets.
In 1989, she received the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.
Lena Horne was known for her Civil Rights work and was outspoken about racial discrimination.
She met with President John F. Kennedy at The White House just two days before he was assassinated.
Lena Horne is survived by her daughter Gail. Her husband died in 1971.
