大象传媒

A note from The Late PB...

"Lena Horne, the singer, actress and civil rights campaigner died this week at the age of 92.

She sang and danced in the chorus of the famous Cotton Club in Harlem in the 1930s when Duke Ellington's orchestra was the 'house band'. She toured with the white big bands of Charlie Barnet and Artie Shaw, and was often barred from staying in the same hotels as the rest of the band.

In 1943 she starred in the all-black musical 'Stormy Weather, a wonderful film (if you've never seen it, it's time you did!), alongside Fats Waller and Cab Calloway.

When she married the white pianist/composer Lennie Hayton in 1947 they had to keep the marriage secret for fear of racialist reprisals.

She had a wonderful purity of tone and crisp delivery, together with a fine sense of swing. All of these will be apparent in the tribute on Saturday night at 11.00pm. Unmissable.

Pip, pip..."

The Late PB