I met Lena in New Haven,CT in 1968. She is the most beautiful woman I've ever met and one of the kindest who went out of her way to be kind to me. What a chat we had!
Fascinating interview. Because my friend was company manager for "Lady and Her Music" had the honor of speaking with Miss Horne in her dressing room on a couple occasions. Absolutely mesmerizing
I bought a book from Half Price Books called "The Hornes, An American Family," by her daughter Gail (Horne) Lumet Buckley. It traces her family back to the late 1700's.
sierria64 Yeah, you've said something real yourself. But let me point out someone else who kept it real but extended his repertory beyond being cast in "black" roles. Frank Silvera, like Anthony Quinn, Mexican, and Charles Bronson, Lithuanian, was a multicultural, meaning he could play "outside his neighborhood," without losing his soul and identity. Certainly, Quinn wasn't Greek and Bronson wasn't Native American. So Silvera, very active in promoting theatre projects in the community, once played a romantic role opposite Faith Domergue. I just feel -- and I'd like your feedback -- that Horne could've widened her options and avoid that celluloid ghetto then prevalent for African American artists. I personally would have supported her non "sister" roles since she would've opened the doors for the likes of Hilda Simms, Isabelle Cooley, and a host of other "non sister looking" actresses. I've never seen a need for the crab syndrome so many among us believe. I've said this before, and I will say it again. Lena Horne as another dance partner for Fred Astaire would've proved quite an entertainment attraction and success.
I love…..Lena Horne! The Lady and her music was outstanding artistry. I saw the show five times. An amazing and very elegant song stylist! She definitely can sell a song. Love you too much Ms. Horne💙🙏🏾
This beautiful woman is my father's grandmother so she is and was my great great grandmother!!! I think I added enough greats to great grandmother...wow!!! Always been a fan of the famous people in my family. I was listening to a taste of honey, a great female Asian soul band of the seventies and Lena popped up...my grandmom. Wonderful surprise!!!
to me, she had it all...she was a TRUE "grand dame" and mega-star.....smart...hilarious...talented-out-the-backdoor...could sing her face off...witty....TOUGH...took no bullshit...shot straight from the hip...never compromised herself, by NEVER selling out herself, or her people...and she ADORED her friends and family. I have NEVER heard anyone in the entertainment industry say one negative thing about her. And trust me, there are MANY icons in their industry who we could talk about negatively, FOR DAYS.
People who looked like Lena in those days ONLY claimed being BLACK, which made our community stronger. Black people of every hue, pulled all of our talents together, fighting for the equality. It's the only reason we got anywhere. Most of the people who founded the NAACP were wt passing looking people who used their light skin position, to pull all of our people forward. Walter White actually wen down South living as an undercover Klansmen to get the Klan arrested. The way people run to say they're "mixed" now, leaing the black community mentally, it weakens us greatly in the struggle for equality. Lena was a warrior for our people like Thurgood Marshall, Congressman Adam Clayton Powell of Harlem, Walter White,the head of the NAACP, etc.. Google their images. They all looked wt but we're proud to say they were BLACK.
@umxoxo17 I bought a book from Half Price Books called "The Hornes, An American Family," by her daughter Gail (Horne) Lumet Buckley. It traces her family back to the late 1700's.
Two very classy and talented entertainers - Lena Horne and Johnny Carson. May they both rest in peace! Snooky Young was the amazing trumpet player in the Tonight Show's band that Lena was referring to.
@MusicandDancing4Ever as i said she is not from my generation, the first time i heard of lena was the day she passed so you can understand why i dnt know much about her........ take care xxx
philsfilm Many of these black entertainers did not necessarily only seek out to marry white due to some type of obligation when you use the word tradition. Although there are some real unresolved issues within the black community, especially with athletes, that made it more amenable, yet those types of entertainers have a universal appeal which led them to wider affiliations. Importantly, some of these great black figures many times have not been exactly embraced in the black community in an all-inclusive way, which has yielded opportunity in other cultures. For example, Eartha Kitt was not really accepted in her own community & America blacklisted her so she opened herself to Europe for she had that affective appeal in look & style.
@PureSoapCleans You DO realize which era she came up in; don't you? That was everyones focus in her time. This was her experience and the way she HAD to experience a good deal of her career for quite awhile. There is no way for her to tell her story without these facts included.
He also said he beat her. She said in Ebony in 1980 that was bullsh**t. She said they were only friends and the people who wrote his book were using him. I believe her!
It's been a tradition from the '50s on that most successful black entertainers and athletes either dated or married caucasians: Sammy Davis, Jr., Eartha Kitt, Diahann Carroll, Sidney Poitier, Harry Belafonte, Quincy Jones, Jim Brown, Wilt Chamberlain, O.J. Simpson.
@leplaq can I please get people to just enjoy her for being her, instead of going to the negative and no damn body commenting negatively knows her personally. They dont know SHT! ugh lol. Get a life...eh? Thanks for standing up to these dingalings!
I'm in the middle of it, and it's pretty dishy so far. This book has her bedding Orson Welles, Duke Ellington, and others. So she wasn't a prude offstage, but she wasn't all that happy either. She gets more bitter with each new chapter.
She could portray Mrs. Horne, but I think Jessie Ware a singer from the UK looks so much like her it's crazy! She could play her perfectly, just need to work on her US accent lol Look her up, and tell me what you think! Her name is Jessie Ware.
@MusicandDancing4Ever i love the way people feel that they can be rude just because theyre on youtube lol i was only asking a question she is not from my generation xx
There was a custody battle - her ex threatened her and some say blackmailed her for him. She was ambitious and wanted to move on with her career. She thought she left him in good hands. Read the James Gavin bio.
