May 10, 2010

Today's CLASSIC Clip

Legendary singer, dancer, actress and civil rights activist Lena Horne, 92, died in New York on Sunday night. Horne was 16 when she began her show business career as a dancer at Harlem's Cotton Club. She later became a singer there, playing to packed houses of white patrons, with band leaders Cab Calloway and Duke Ellington. Horne was the first African-American to sign a long-term movie contract with a major Hollywood studio when she joined MGM in 1942. Here she is as the headstrong Selina Rogers in the 1943 classic.

Lena Horne - Stormy Weather (1943)



Stormy Weather is "an uplifting and delighful 'Smorgasbord' of music and dance of the highest order." Fans of vintage swing and tap dance, and the big band sound - do yourself a favour and check it out.

1 comment:

Bobbie Kidd said...

long live big band.

lena horne was an OG.
RIP!