Remembering Lena Horne

24:53

May 11, 2010

Stormy weather and an extraordinary life. We remember legendary singer and actress Lena Horne.

Lena Horne is shown in a Broadway production "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music" in New York, April 30, 1981. Horne, who broke racial barriers as a Hollywood and Broadway star, has died at age 92. (AP)

Picture a Halle Berry beauty who could sing, a Beyonce who couldn’t buy a cup of coffee in pre-Civil Rights era America, and you begin to get a take on Lena Horne.

She came up dazzling out of Harlem’s Cotton Club, and she was the first black performer to sign a longterm contract with a major Hollywood studio.

Then she saw her parts clipped out in Southern theaters, and the role she most wanted go to Ava Gardner in brown face.

When Lena Horne sang "Stormy Weather," she knew what she was singing about. This week, she died at 92.

This Hour, On Point: the life and art of Lena Horne.Guest:

James Gavin, music journalist and author. His new book, "Stormy Weather: The Life of Lena Horne," is just out in paperback.
Renee Graham, music critic and former pop culture correpondent for the Boston Globe.
Maya Angelou, one of America’s most renowned writers and poets. She is professor of American Studies at Wake Forest University and author of numerous books, including “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings.” Her latest book is “Letter to My Daughter."

Here's a playlist for the songs aired during this hour:

"Just One of Those Things"
"Stormy Weather"
"Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man"
"Love of My Life"
"Tomorrow Mountain"
"Come Runnin’"
"I Got Rhythm"
"I’ve Grown Accustomed to His Face"
"I Got a Name"
"Summertime"

This program aired on May 11, 2010.