Remembering the great Lena Horne

Legendary actress, dancer, singer, and pioneer civil rights activist Lena Horne passed away last night at age 91. Originally discovered as a teenager at the Cotton Club in New York City, her active career would go on to span nearly 70 years.

Horne became a household name after moving to Hollywood, where she scored memorable roles in such films as Cabin in the Sky and Stormy Weather. Sadly, she later found herself blacklisted due to the Red Scare and her political leanings.

In August 1963, Horne took part in the March on Washington. She would make a comeback in the years that followed, performing in nightclubs around the country, on television, and releasing several albums.

During the early 1980s, she starred in a one-woman revue - Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music - which ran for more than 300 performances on Broadway. This introduced her work to a new generation of fans.

Although a quick Internet search did not yield any results, it's a very good bet that Horne performed in Wildwood during the prime of her career.

I have put in a call to some of the island's local music/entertainment scene experts, and will report if any info on this turns up.

But, in the meantime, if anyone happens to have any memories or notations of Horne appearances in Wildwood, I'd be most interested.

Below is a clip of Horne signing what became her signature number, the title song from Stormy Weather (you'll likely know it, even if the name doesn't immediately ring a bell)...