Lena Horne

An iconic African-American singer who broke new ground in Hollywood with her rich, velvety voice, Lena Horne was born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on June 30, 1917. She got her showbiz start in the 1930s, working as a chorus girl at Harlem's legendary Cotton Club, and went on to snag a long-term contract with MGM at a time when no other black actors had them.

Eschewing stereotypical "black" roles of the era, Horne found her niche as an onscreen songstress, making her film bow in Panama Hattie (1942). The following year, she starred in the movie-musical Stormy Weather (1943); the film's title tune would become her signature song.

Horne also led an active stage life, earning a Tony nod in 1958 for her performance in the Broadway musical "Jamaica" and winning a special Tony decades later for her autobiographical show "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music" (1981). She died May 9, 2010, at the age of 92.

Filmography