Lena Horne

A pivotal figure in the history of Black arts and culture, Lena Horne was a woman whose cool elegance as a singer and actress was matched by her convictions as an activist. Born in Brooklyn in 1917, Horne got her start at Harlem’s legendary Cotton Club as a member of the chorus line before becoming one of its most famous acts of the ‘40s. Hollywood was her next stop, but she was soon disenchanted by the typecasting faced by the era’s few Black screen actors. Instead, Horne became increasingly engaged with the fight for civil rights, leading to her role in the March on Washington in 1963. She remained a major draw at nightclubs thanks to the warm, regal vocal delivery showcased on recordings like 1957’s At The Waldorf Astoria (Live) and 1965’s Feelin’ Good. Horne’s prowess as an interpreter of jazz, pop, and blues standards was equally clear on 2006’s Seasons of aLife, the final release before her death in 2010.