# Lena Horne

> American singer, actress, dancer and activist (1917–2010)

**Wikidata**: [Q112307](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112307)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lena_Horne)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lena-horne

## Summary
Lena Horne was an American singer, actress, dancer, and activist whose career spanned from 1933 to 2000. A prominent figure in the entertainment industry, she was known for her work in jazz, traditional pop, and pop music, and was affiliated with major record labels such as RCA Records, Blue Note, and Decca. She received significant recognition for her contributions to the arts and civil rights, including a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Kennedy Center Honors, and the Spingarn Medal.

## Biography
- **Born:** June 30, 1917
- **Nationality:** American (United States)
- **Education:** Honorary degree from Spelman College
- **Known for:** Singing, acting, dancing, and activism; work in jazz and traditional pop music
- **Employer(s):** Blue Note, MGM Records, RCA Records, Qwest Records, Decca
- **Field(s):** Entertainment (film, television, theatre, radio), Music, Activism

## Contributions
Lena Horne built a multifaceted career in the entertainment industry, working across film, television, theatre, and radio as an actor, dancer, and singer. Her musical contributions include recordings in the genres of jazz, traditional pop, and pop music, released through prominent labels such as RCA Records (founded 1901), Blue Note (founded 1939), MGM Records (founded 1946), Qwest Records (founded 1980), and Decca (founded 1929). She appeared in notable productions, including the film *Till the Clouds Roll By*. As an activist, she worked to promote social and political change, a commitment recognized by awards such as the Spingarn Medal and the Paul Robeson Award.

## FAQs
**What were Lena Horne's primary occupations?**
Lena Horne was a singer, actress, dancer, and activist. She also worked as a model and pin-up model, serving as a visual aid with wide popular culture appeal.

**Which record labels was Lena Horne associated with?**
She was associated with several major record labels, including Blue Note, MGM Records, RCA Records, Qwest Records, and Decca.

**What awards did Lena Horne receive?**
She received numerous prestigious awards, including the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album, the Special Tony Award, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Spingarn Medal, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

**What genres of music did Lena Horne perform?**
Lena Horne performed in genres including jazz, traditional pop (Western popular music predating rock and roll), and pop music.

**When did Lena Horne live and work?**
She was born on June 30, 1917, and died on May 9, 2010. Her work period spanned from 1933 to 2000.

**Did Lena Horne receive any academic honors?**
Yes, she received an honorary degree from Spelman College and the Radcliffe Medal.

## Why They Matter
Lena Horne matters as a trailblazing figure who navigated and succeeded across multiple entertainment mediums—film, television, theatre, and music—during a career that lasted nearly seven decades. Her work with major record labels like RCA and Blue Note helped define the sound of jazz and traditional pop in the 20th century. Beyond her artistic output, her significance is underscored by her activism; receiving the Spingarn Medal and the Paul Robeson Award highlights her impact on social and civil rights advancement. Her legacy is cemented by high-profile recognitions such as the Kennedy Center Honors and the naming of the Lena Horne Theatre on Broadway, reflecting her enduring influence on American culture and the performing arts.

## Notable For
- **Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award:** Recipient of this prestigious music award.
- **Kennedy Center Honors:** Honored for her lifetime contributions to American culture through the performing arts.
- **Spingarn Medal:** Awarded for the highest achievement of an American of African descent.
- **Hollywood Walk of Fame:** Recipient of a star on this famous landmark.
- **Special Tony Award:** Recognized for her contributions to theatre.
- **Grammy Awards:** Won the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance and the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.
- **Grammy Hall of Fame:** Inducted for recordings of lasting qualitative or historical significance.
- **Paul Robeson Award:** Received this award bestowed by the Actors' Equity Association.
- **Broadway Theater:** The Lena Horne Theatre in Manhattan, New York, is named in her honor.
- **Longevity:** Active work period from 1933 to 2000.
- **Diverse Roles:** Worked as a film actor, stage actor, television actor, singer, dancer, and pin-up model.

## Body
### Identity and Personal Life
Lena Mary Calhoun Horne was born on June 30, 1917, and passed away on May 9, 2010. She was an American citizen and a member of the human species. Throughout her life, she was also known by the aliases Lena Horne Jones and Lena Horne Hayton.

### Career and Occupations
Horne's career was defined by her versatility as a performer and activist. As an actor, she performed in dramatic or comic productions across film, television, theatre, and radio. Specifically, she worked as a stage actor performing live before in-person audiences, a television actor, and a film actor. As a dancer, she used her body to express herself through movement. As a singer, she performed for listening audiences. Additionally, she worked as a model and pin-up model, where her mass-produced pictures saw wide appeal as popular culture. Her role as an activist involved her working to promote or impede social, political, economic, or environmental change.

### Musical Career and Record Labels
Horne's musical career spanned several genres, including jazz (a musical style and genre), traditional pop (Western popular music predating rock and roll), and pop music. She was affiliated with numerous significant record labels:
*   **Blue Note:** An American record label founded in 1939, serving as the main imprint of Blue Note Records, Inc. and specializing in jazz.
*   **MGM Records:** A defunct American record label founded in 1946.
*   **RCA Records:** An American record label founded in 1901, currently a subsidiary of Sony Music Entertainment.
*   **Qwest Records:** An American record label founded in 1980.
*   **Decca:** A British record label founded in 1929, currently a subsidiary of Universal Music Group.

### Acting and Performance
In addition to her music career, Horne maintained a strong presence in acting. Archival records, including imagery titled "Lena Horne in Till the Clouds Roll By 2.jpg," document her appearance in the film *Till the Clouds Roll By*. Her work as a stage actor is further immortalized by the Lena Horne Theatre, a Broadway theater located in Manhattan, New York, which was established on February 15, 1926.

### Awards and Recognition
Horne received extensive recognition for her contributions to music, theatre, and civil rights:
*   **Grammy Awards:** She was awarded the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award, the Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, and the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. She was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame.
*   **Theater and Arts:** She received a Special Tony Award and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
*   **Civil Rights and Academic Honors:** She was honored with the Spingarn Medal (awarded for the highest achievement of an American of African descent), the Paul Robeson Award, the Radcliffe Medal, and an honorary degree from Spelman College.
*   **National Honors:** She was a recipient of the Kennedy Center Honors, an annual American honor in the performing arts.

### Legacy
Lena Horne's work period extended from 1933 to 2000, marking a sustained presence in the public eye. Her legacy is preserved through various identifiers and archival records, including her Library of Congress Control Number (n81082528), ISNI (0000000121305098), and VIAF (168538443). Her life and career remain a subject of study in biographies and cultural histories.

## References

1. Integrated Authority File
2. Biographical Dictionary of Afro-American and African Musicians
3. BnF authorities
4. [Source](https://bowiestate.edu/academics/colleges/college-of-arts-and-sciences/departments/communications/the-spectrum/2015/black-history-month-tribute-to-lena-horne.php)
5. [Encyclopædia Britannica Online](https://www.britannica.com/topic/Spingarn-Medal)
6. [Source](https://www.radcliffe.harvard.edu/about-the-institute/radcliffe-medalists)
7. [Source](https://www.nps.gov/features/malu/feat0002/wof/Lena_Horne.htm)
8. [Source](https://www.spelman.edu/docs/honorary-degrees/honorary-degree-recipients---1977-present---as-of-november-2022---revised-(012023).pdf?sfvrsn=f4347e51_2)
9. Notable Black American Women
10. BlackPast.org
11. International Standard Name Identifier
12. MusicBrainz
13. Virtual International Authority File
14. [Source](https://archives.nypl.org/scm/20840)
15. SNAC
16. Internet Broadway Database
17. Find a Grave
18. FemBio database
19. GeneaStar
20. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
21. BBC Things
22. Czech National Authority Database
23. The Guardian
24. The Movie Database
25. Cinemathèque québécoise Linked Open Data