Tuesday, December 1, 2009

Shirley Horn


Shirley Horn

Shirley Horn was born on May 1, 1934 and began to play the piano at age four. After majoring in music at Howard University, Horn put together her first trio in 1954. Miles Davis invited her to open for him at the Village Vanguard in 1960, an engagement that led to a recording contract with Mercury Records and a life-long friendship with Davis. Quincy Jones became an admirer and mentor of Horn’s during this period, and produced two of her albums. After parting ways with the label over creative differences, she recorded a number of albums for the Danish Steeplechase label, which cemented her reputation as a singular talent. Horn was a devoted wife and mother, so much so that she eschewed touring for many years and instead chose to perform primarily in clubs around the D.C. and Baltimore area. In 1986, she signed with Verve and released fourteen albums to critical acclaim. She was received eight Grammy nominations, was elected to the Lionel Hampton Jazz Hall of Fame, and won the Grammy for Best Jazz Vocal Performance in 1999. She received many other awards and died on October 20, 2005 in her hometown of Washington, DC after a lengthy illness.

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