Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Stormy Weather


The lovely, and talented lady above is one Lena Horne, born this day 1917 in Brooklyn, New York. She had a bit of a wanders upbringing before she joined the chorus line of the Cotton Club in 1933. From their, her huge amount of talent got her to Hollywood, where she starred in a few films, but by the 1950's she was tired of Hollywood, and went back to her roots of being a club singer. Just as well, since her political beliefs got her blacklisted by those bastards that ran the big films. She was a premier attraction for years, at several big nightclubs, and started making numerous guest appearances on TV. It was on TV that I first "discovered" her. She was Fred Sanford's (that's Sanford.) favourite singer, and he also had a bit of a crush on her. She made an appearance on Sanford and Son, and sang a few bars of the song by which she is most know, i.e. Stormy Weather. Much like Fred Sanford, I was star struck when I heard her voice. It was amazing, and the woman was still gorgeous (this was in the 70's). So, for making that tune her own, and being a talented, amazing singer, Lena Horne (June 30th, 1917-May 9th, 2010, at the age of 92), you are my (311th) hero(ine) of the day.

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