Lena Horne, You Made Me Cry - RIP

I was at work today when I saw the news of Lena Horne's passing yesterday in NYC at 92, and I keep crying, as though she had been a good friend. There's just so much about her that moves me, from her breaking into a white-dominated Hollywood in the 40's (she was one of the first African Americans to sign a movie contract), singing in the 50's, and Broadway performance in the 80's, to her always fabulous, sultry voice, her exquisite wide-eyed, brown look, and her smooth, sensual demeanor, even as she aged so well, and, of course, her righteous work with the civil rights movement. It was her passion for life and living well I so admire. She didn't have it easy, and she overcame so much! For the obit, check out The New York Times today, if you haven't.

This stunner, below, is a reminder how far we've come as a society:

"While traveling with a USO tour during the World War II, she walked out on a show because German war prisoners were seated in front seats, ahead of African-American troops. After the USO withdrew her from the tour, she used her own money to travel to sing for the troops." - CNN

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/10/arts/music/10horne.html?hpw

Check out the Youtube clips of Lena Horne singing "Stormy Weather" and "If You Believe" at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMf0Z7EPdLo&feature=player_embedded

Here she is on TV, very 60's: "You Better Love Me"
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiHVsFi-Fk8&NR=1

Oh, I'll miss you, Lena Horne!