FREE ESSAY ON LENA HORNE

LENA HORNE

Lena Horne
Heather Donahue
March 23, 2000
Humanities 15
Tues. & Thurs. 
9:30 - 11 a.m.
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Lena Horne
Lena Horne was born on June 30, 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents were Teddy and
Edna Scottron Horne. After her father left her at the age of two in order to pursue his
gambling career; her mother leaving soon after that to pursue her acting career; she went
to live with her grandparents. Through her grandparents influence she became involved
with organizations like the NAACP, at an early age.
In 1924 she went back to live with her mother, traveling and being schooled all over the
state until she was fourteen. At the age of fourteen she decided to drop out of school
and go to work. Because she was talented and light skinned it was not hard for her to
find a job. She became a chorus girl in Harlem's Cotton Club where blacks entertained a
strictly all white crowd. At that time she was making about $25 a week. It was here that
Lena got to meet and observe now famous artists such as Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway,
Count Basie, Ethal Waters, and Billie Holiday. 
At the age of nineteen she met and married Louis Jones. Together they had two children
Gail and Teddy (who later died in 1970 from kidney failure). While trying to get used to
raising a family and having a career, she received a call from an agent, who had seen her
at the Cotton Club, about a part in a movie. Her controlling husband allowed her to be in
"The Duke is Tops" and also the musical revue "Blackbirds of 1939. 
When she finally got up the courage to leave Louis, he deiced to take her son away from
her. 
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She lost custody of Teddy when the divorce was final and has always regretted not
fighting harder for her son. 
After her divorce she began singing with Noble Sissie's Society Orchestra. Through out
their tour she had to endure harsh racism having to sleep in tenement boarding houses,
the bus and even once in circus grounds. Soon after that, she toured with Charlie
Barnet's Outfit and became the first African American to tour with an all white band. She
was their feature singer and considers this to be the beginning of her success.
Lena decided to head out to Hollywood and see what she could do out there. She began
singing in the Trocadero Club where she met one of the most influential people in her
life: Billy Strayhom. Billy Strayhom was the chief music-writer for Duke Ellington. Lena
has always felt that she and he were soul mates, despite the fact that he was gay. At 76
she sang a forty minute set at his funeral.
While singing in the Trocadero Club she was discovered by MGM. Being a strong believer in
equal rights she demanded a contract. Right then Lena earned her place in African
American history as "the first African-American actress in history to sign a long-term
contract with a major film studio." (AMC) 
Lena began to emerge as the first pinup girl for African American GI's. Also she was the
first African American actress to be on the cover of a movie magazine, Motion Picture
Magazine 1944.
Lena Horne married a white musical arranger in 1947. His name was Lennie 
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Hayton. They kept their marriage a secret for three years because of the controversy over
interracial marriages. When the marriage finally came out in the open, the couple was
bombarded with numerous threatening letters. The couple was married for 24 years when he
died in 1971. Devastated by his death; she moved in with her daughter.
It wasn't until three years later when Tony Bennett convinced her to return to show
business that she did any performing. In 1981 she put on the performance of a lifetime.
Her one women show entitled "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music" ran for fourteen months
straight before she took the production on tour.
She has always been a strong believer in equal rights. Lena has actively participated in
the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the National Council of
Negro women, the Delta Sigma Theta sorority and the Urban League. Lena often offered her
time singing and speaking at rallies and conventions in support of equal rights. One of
the advancements she is most proud of is an honorary doctorate she received from Howard
University in 1980. "'I had been offered doctorates earlier,' she said, 'and had turned
them down because I hadn't been to college. But by the time Howard presented the
doctorate to me, I knew I had graduated from the school of life, and I was ready to
accept it.'" (Amazon)
In 1994 she released an Album entitled "We'll Be Together Again" as a tribute to some of
the musician that are gone who have contributed to her sixty one year career. 
The musicians are Billy Strayhom, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Harold Arien and of 
course her husband, Lennie Hayton.
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Lena not only starred in movies but also on television. She was in shows such as: "Ed
Sullivan Show, "The Cosby Show, and "The Perry Como Show." She also starred in musical
and television specials with Judy Garland, Bing Crosby, and Frank Sinatra. She was one of
the first African American women in many US productions.
Some of her most famous songs recorded are "Here's Lena--Now? The Eagle and Me, "The Best
Things in Life Are Free, "We'll Be Together again, "The Lady and Her Music, "Lena: Lovely
and Alive, " I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues, "Moanin' Low." Lena had roles in movies
such as: "Stormy Weather, "Cabin in the Sky, "Death of a Gunfighter, "The Duke is Tops,
"Blackbirds of 1939, and much more. The Broadway shows she performed in were "Dance With
Your Gods" and "Jamaica" just to name a few. 
Lena Horne is considered one of the first African American movie stars. She paved the way
for African American men and women in Hollywood. Her enduring and indelible career took
her from cabaret performer in the '30s to stage and screen star in the '40s, '50s, and
'60s. She is currently recording today while living in New York City. I think that she is
overlooked too quickly when it comes to naming great performers. She was finally
recognized for her achievements in 1989 when earned a Grammy for Lifetime Achievement.
Lena Horne has paved a way for other African Americans to enter into the world of film. I
think that she is a great pioneer of equal rights because she did it on 
her own terms and was not as forceful as some of the other advocates. She achieved 
equal rights and respect because of her grace, elegance and talent.
Synopsis on Lena Horne
Lena Horne has made a big difference in the entertainment field of American Culture. She
started performing at the age of fourteen in a chorus line to help out with the bills at
home. She quickly moved into the Broadway scene. She has been in several Broadway shows
like: "Dance With Your Gods" in 1934 and also "Jamaica" in 1957. After Broadway she began
her film career. Although the movies she stared in had an all African American cast, her
presence helps push aside the stereotypical on-screen images of African Americans. Lena
made history by becoming the first Africa American to tour with an all white band and
also the first African American women to sign a long-term contract with a major film
studio. She was also an accomplished jazz singer. Recording songs such as: "The Lady and
Her Music" and "The Best Things in Life Are Free." Lena was a strong advocate of equal
rights. he was a member of the NAACP, the National Council of Negro women and the Urban
League. I think that she is a great pioneer of equal rights because she did it on her own
terms and was not as forceful as some of the other advocates. She achieved equal rights
and respect because of her grace, elegance and talent.
Bibliography
Magazines: 
Lena 
Town & Country, September '95, Vol. 149 issue 5184, page 128.
Author: Jonathan Schwartz
The Lady Lived The Blues
Biography, February '98, Vol. 2 issue 2, page 62
Author: Beverly Lauderdale
Lena Horne, Timeless as Ever
Billboard, June '98, Vol. 110 issue 25, page 36
Author: Philip Booth
Web Pages:
www.amctv.com/behind/stars/horne.html
www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000006Q62/afrciangenesis
www.geocities.com/BourbonStreet/Delta/6424