Lena Horne Research Paper

It was the year of 1917 on the day of June 30 when the great and multitalented Lena Horne was born. Growing up Lena lived a very different lifestyle life style than what others did. Lena grew up with a father who was a banker and professional gambler, while her mother was a fulltime actress that traveled to different theaters to perform. At the young age of three her parents had divorced, and since Lena’s mother was always on the road she would stay with her grandparents while her mother was gone. She would soon later join her mother on the road experiencing the great art of performing, and thus a star was born.
At the age of sixteen Lean had decided not to finish school and began working at the infamous Cotton in Harlem New York. Working in the Cotton Club as a singer and dancer had opened up the door for her career even more. Lena had made her first ever debut on Broadway in production Dance With Your Gods. This opportunity in Broadway allowed Lena to be discovered by Noble Sissle who wanted Lena to join him and his …show more content…
She created two albums within a two year period and both albums It’s Love and Stormy Weather were a hit. Lena had the great pleasure in working with the great Duke Ellington the great pianist and bandleader. She gives him majority credit for her vocal training as he helped perfect her vocals with intense training. Lena not only enjoyed the arts of music, but she also took time to work for the equality of African Americans. She stayed active in the Civil Right movement, while she did great works in organizations such as the NAACP and National Council for Negro Women. Lena’s great career lasted for more than a decade with great success. She gave her last concert at the infamous New York’s Supper Club which was recorded live and won a Grammy for best Jazz Vocal Album and she received a Recording Academy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989 (Recording Academy,

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