Farewell, Lena Horne

May 10, 2010 / Posted by: Michael K

If you witnessed a tiny crystal bubble floating through Manhattan last night, it was Lena Horne gliding off to the Emerald City in the sky. Lena passed away on Sunday at the age of 92. Lena’s rep wouldn’t give anymore details.

Lena kicked down racial barriers when she became one of the first black performs to sing with an all-white orchestra in the 1940s. She was also the first black actress to land a long-term contract at a major movie studio. Lena starred in Panama Hattie, Stormy Weather, Cabin in the Sky and of course as Glinda the Good Witch in The Wiz. In the early 1960s, Lena became a prominent civil rights activist. If you haven’t yet, you should read her obit at The New York Times.

Rest in peace, Lena…and thank you for teaching some of us our ABCs. Here’s a refresher:

Tags: Sadness, TomKat

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