Stormy Weather (Lena Horne Obit)

www.steynonline.com ^ | 05/011/2010 | Mark Steyn

[jazzo]

A song for Lena Horne 1917-2010

Don’t know why There’s no sun up in the sky...

If there's no sun up in the sky, it's because he's mourning the passing of the great Lena Horne, a few weeks shy of her 93rd birthday. Miss Horne was born on June 30th 1917 into a middle-class black family in Brooklyn. Her father left in 1920, and her mother turned to acting, touring in all-black productions of white shows, in one of which - Madame X - her young daughter made her stage debut. For the next six decades, she was rarely off-stage. Even at the end, she was busy working on a biopic in which, somewhat alarmingly, she was to be played by Whitney Houston. She didn't record much in the last couple of years, but a decade and a half back she and Frank Sinatra combined on one of the true gems of his otherwise problematic Duets project - a lovely, warm, mature, heartfelt take on the Gershwins' "Embraceable You", a duet for two old friends grown comfortable in love.

[jazzo]

Mark is simply the best and I have always believed he at his best when talking entertainment/entertainers.

Ms. Horne was certainily someone special.

RIP Lena

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[Beowulf9]

Loved her in Cabin in the Sky. Said she played the bad girl but she in real life was the good girl.

Great voice. Farewell to you, Lena. I hope your Cabin in the sky is a nice one.

[bcsco]

Just a ping to Lena’s obit from Mark Steyn...

[Young Werther]

A True American Treasure!

Stormy Weather

[ICAB9USA]

....... Fred is quite sad.

_____

RIP Lena.

[colorado tanker]

[oh8eleven]

Miss Horne was born on June 30th 1917 into a middle-class black family in Brooklyn.
Black? Middle class? 1917?
But, but, I thought all blacks were oppressed. I thought whitey kept them all down and out.
How could they have gotten to middle class, in 1917 no less, w/o gubmint help?

[scoobysnak71]

Oh honey, I’m gonna miss you so much. :’(

Something for you.

http://www.bing.com/videos/watch/video/lena-horne-stormy-weather-1943/fa7843eed1cab9b06b34fa7843eed1cab9b06b34-55972397381

[jazzo]

Man she was a beautiful woman, thanks for the link.

[TheBattman]

Was reminded of her greatness when watching “The Wiz” recently with my young daughters - Lena played the good witch at the end - A timeless great in the industry!

[Tex-Con-Man]

Holy Crap...Steyn is quite a writer.

His level of knowledge and understanding of the subjects he writes about create columns that are works of art themselves.

Do yourself a pleasure...follow the link...read the whole thing.

[RoadTest]

“Ethel was the only Waters they needed”

:-D

[RoadTest]

“Steyn is quite a writer.
His level of knowledge and understanding of the subjects he writes about create columns that are works of art themselves.”

He’s a MUSIC CRITIC! - a real one!

[MHGinTN]

BTTT for a tribute to a Lady gone home ...

[Chickensoup]

He can write one of the best textured and multilayered obits ever

[fieldmarshaldj]

*ping of interest*

[jazzo]

He really should publish a book of them. Some of my favorites were about Ernest Lehman(Screenwriter), Artie Shaw, John Profumo (of Scandal fame),and Francis Crick (DNA guy). I am sure there were many more.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

At about that same time Harlem was one of the nicest neighborhoods in the country.

RIP Miss Horn. A great talent who will be missed.

[oh8eleven]

At about that same time Harlem was one of the nicest neighborhoods in the country.
I'm from NY and my roots are in the lower east side.
Way back in the day, Harlem was one the hardest locations to find a place to live.
And that's if you were black. White people had no chance and were told to go look on the east side.