Lena Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010)

It is with much sadness that I learned of Lena Horne's passing today. She was a remarkable lady in so many ways, and the last surviving member of a quartet of remarkable African-American women (along with Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holliday) who shook the world in the middle of the 20th century.

It's still hard for someone of my generation to imagine the difficulties she faced due to segregation; prejudice which severely limited a budding film career and forced her to take a heroic stance against playing "Latin American" roles to disguise her true ethnicity. She refused to compromise with the big studios, choosing instead to pursue a career in the theatre and as a recording artist. One can only wonder at the mega-star she might have been in a more open-minded society.

But in my mind her talent is both unmistakable and truly legendary. The laughter and joy she made a hallmark of her career will never be lost and never duplicated. The light in her smile will never be extinguished in the hearts of her fans around the world.

Rest in peace Lena. You will be missed.