Lena Horne was born Lena Mary Calhoun Horne in Brooklyn, NY, on June 30, 1917. Lena started her career when she was 16 working in Harlem’s Cotton Club. She first worked at the Cotton Club as a dancer then in the chorus. Lena began to be noticed as a solo singer when she replaced a sick performer during a performance at the Cotton Club. She was seen by a theatrical producer at the Cotton Club and was hired to perform in a play Dance With Your Gods in 1934. In 1936, she made her recording debut singing That’s What Love Did to Me and I Take to You. In 1938, she was asked to co-star in the film The Duke Is Tops. Horne has performed in many films throughout her illustrious career; however, she is known more for being a club singer. In 1981, at the age of 63, she triumphantly put on a one-woman show on Broadway which was a tremendous hit. Lena received a special Tony Award for that show.

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