Ms. Horne first came to prominence in the 1940's, as a highly noticeable singing supporting player in MGM musicals. She rarely did more than sing a song or two, but her vocal performances were often among the highlights of the movies.

Ms. Horne married Louis Jones when she was 19, and had two children, Gail and Teddy. The marriage ended soon afterward. Ms. Horne kept Gail, but Jones insisted on keeping Teddy. In 1947 Ms. Horne married again, this time to the prominent white arranger, conductor and pianist Lennie Hayton, who was for many years both her musical director and MGM's. The marriage took place in France and was kept secret for three years, for fear of public reaction.

Despite the frustrations of Hollywood racial codes, by 1945, Ms. Horne was a successful performer, fetching top prices for radio and nightclub performances.

In the 1950's, her liberal views and outspokeness on issues such as segregation largely ended her movie career. When she burst back onto the seen as a star in her one woman show, Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music, it was as if the public was discovering her anew. Critics hailed her talents and the show ran for 14 months and won a Tony Award. The production also ran in London for a month in August and ended its run in Stockholm, Sweden, September 14, 1984. Ms. Horne had previously been nominated for a Tony Award for the hit 1957 Harold Harlen musical Jamaica, in which she starred, singing Ain't It the Truth?


Source: Playbill.com