[Oe List ...] Death of an Artist

[R Williams]

Absolutely Ella is on the list!  There are several somewhat lesser knowns who should probably be included, like Dakota Staton, Nancy Wilson and Julie London,  remembered for her sultry version  of "Scotch and Soda".
 
In reading a little more about Lena I learned that she was one of the first black entertainers to work in "all white" venues.  In her earlier days she was accepted by whites as an entertainer but was not allowed into their social circles.  Later she married Lenny Hayden who, as I remember, was white.  That made her more acceptable with some whites but less so with others.  She broke down some big walls, from which we all have benefited, but payed a price.
 
Randy

--- On Mon, 5/10/10, Sandra/Bob True <icatrue at igc.org> wrote:


From: Sandra/Bob True <icatrue at igc.org>
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Death of an Artist
To: "Order Ecumenical Community" <oe at wedgeblade.net>
Date: Monday, May 10, 2010, 10:57 AM



Ella Fitzgerald is also on the list. Because of my love for Ella I lived jazz singers Lena Horn among them. Saw her perform at a Jazz Festival in CA many years ago. Truely great!

Sandra



On May 10, 2010, at 11:47 AM, Pamela Bergdall <pbergdall2 at yahoo.com> wrote:






Thanks for alerting me Randy.  I hadn't seen that Lena died.  I agree with what you say.  Pam





From: R Williams <rcwmbw at yahoo.com>
To: Order Ecumenical Community <oe at wedgeblade.net>; dialogue-request at wedgeblade.net
Sent: Mon, May 10, 2010 7:36:36 AM
Subject: [Oe List ...] Death of an Artist






Today I noted with sadness the death of singer and actress Lena Horne at the age of 92.  She was, in my opinion, one of the great, if not the greatest, song stylist of our time.  Her rendition of "Stormy Weather," from the movie of the same title, is arguably the greatest popular vocal of the 20th century.
 
One of the lilting lyrics from the opening number of her night club act keeps running through my head:
 
"...today I love everybody,
Everybody I see.
And today I state
I think all folks are great,
Including them that are not."
 
Lena and others like her have contributed to the civilizing process and cultural enlightenment of the globe and, one way or another, to ours and other movements for whom music and singing is important.  She is in company with the likes of Ethyl Waters, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett and others whom you would perhaps include.  
 
Randy



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