Lena Horne: A Life in YouTube

The amazing Lena Horne died yesterday at 92, but thanks to the power of the Internet, it's still possible to catch glimpses of her incredible talent online. Here are some of our favorites.

Horne began her career as a nightclub singer and club performer in New York, but later moved to L.A. She had bit parts in a couple of films, but Stormy Weather, released in 1943, was one of her breakout roles. 

Horne went on to be a famed performer and entertainer, appearing often on television specials to sing alongside other icons of the day. This duet in 1960 with Perry Como shows off both her vocal range, her stage presence, and her knockout smile.

Over the years, her fame grew and her face remained almost unchanged—talk about a timeless beauty. Though her progressive politics limited her film career, she continued to succeed as a singer and performer. Her bluesy performance of "Moon River" in 1965 retained the sadness of the Andy Williams version while adding a whole new dimension to the classic tune.

Of course, you're not a real celebrity until you've appeared with the Muppets. Horne did a jazzy, snazzy version of "The Alphabet Song" on Sesame Street in 1971 ...

...followed by an iconic performance of "It's Not Easy Being Green."

In 1985, Horne appeared on the first season of the The Cosby Show, singing an ode to the Huxtable parents while introducing a new generation of fans to her music.

She also shilled for the Gap, sounding amazing at 80. 

 

It's hard to pull the "best" of Lena Horne from the Web, since there was so much variety, depth, and nuance to each performance, and since her devoted fan base has uploaded lots of great clips. It's also difficult to capture the full impact of her career by watching video clips; her activism and politics went a long way toward breaking down the color barrier in American culture. But trying to find personal favorites and reading about her numerous achievements makes for a very pleasurable Monday diversion.