Legendary singer and actress Lena Horne, one of the most beloved entertainers of the twentieth century, has passed away at the age of 92. She lived a long life, and it was filled with music, movies, and memories. 
At 16 she joined New York's Cotton Club where she became an orchestra singer, often touring with Cabell "Cab" Calloway and other jazz greats. She also performed on the radio, and eventually landed in short subjects & low-budget comedies such as The Duke Is Tops (which was reissued once she became famous and retitled "Bronze Venus"). MGM was so impressed with her that they signed her to a long term contract in 1943, breaking racial barriers. She first appeared as a singer in Panama Hattie and then in two films that remain favorites among her fans: Cabin in the Sky and 20th Century Fox's Stormy Weather (where she worked on loan from MGM). She appeared in other fondly-remembered musicals such as Til the Clouds Roll By and Thousands Cheer. During these WW2 years, she also entertained the troops for the USO, produced a number of "V-Discs", and was a favorite pin-up for soldiers.
With her angelic voice, she continued to perform on stage and television throughout the decades, winning a Tony and Grammy. She also received the prestigious Lifetime Achievement Honor from the Kennedy Center, as well as many other awards. And, like alot of people my age, I grew up watching her on Sesame Street and The Muppet Show, where Kermit (played by Jim Henson) described her as "a performer whose name is synonymous with style, taste, and talent". Her life and career is the subject of numerous documentaries, films, and books. Her legend lives on.Lena's Filmography:
The Duke Is Tops (1938) - Renamed "Bronze Venus"Panama Hattie (1942)
Thousands Cheer (1943)
Cabin in the Sky (1943)
Stormy Weather (1943)
I Dood It (1943)
Swing Fever (1943)
Broadway Rhythm (1944)
Boogie-Woogie Dream (1944)
Two Girls and a Sailor (1944)
Till the Clouds Roll By (1946)
Ziegfeld Follies (1945)
Words and Music (1948)
Meet Me in Las Vegas (1956)
Death of a Gunfighter (1969)
The Wiz (1978)
That's Entertainment! III (1994)
