The legendary Lena Horne dies at 92

Actress and singer Lena Horne was the first black performer to be signed to a long term contract by a major Hollywood studio. She died on Sunday night at New York Presbyterian Hospital. Lena Horne battled racism in effort to become Hollywood’s first black leading lady. She could have been a major star, but was born 50 years too early. Horne arrived in Hollywood in the 1930s and is credited for breaking barriers for black actresses to get bigger roles. Many of Horne’s appearances in  movies were  in the 1940s and 1950s, but It was difficult to get roles for fear white audiences might protest the appearance of a black actress. There was also a ban on interracial relationships in films.

By the mid 50′s Horne left Hollywood and established herself as one of the premiere night club performers of the post-war era. In the 50s, 60s and 70s  Horne made appearances on TV/Variety shows in the US & UK. In 1981, Horne was a Broadway star & received a Tony Award for her work. In the the 80s and 90s Horne was active in the recording studio and released a few musical projects, receiving a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 1989. In 1995, Horne released a “live” album, and won a Grammy for best Jazz Vocal Album, and continued to work through the age of 83. To read more about the beautiful life of Ms. Lena Horne and her full list of accomplishments/awards and civil rights activism, click HERE.

Source 1 and 2