| Part of Series | Destination Freedom -- Black Radio Days |
| Length | 32:59 |
| Licensor | donnie B. |
| Producer(s) | Donnie L. Betts |
| Formats | Limited Series |
| Topics | African American, Drama, Historical |
| Produced | 2000 |
| Added to PRX | February 11, 2008 |
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The story of celebrated jazz singer Lena Horne.
Cast: Donnie L. Betts, Greg Ward, Jan Van Sickle, Jeffrey W. Nickleson, Kurt Soderstrom, Debra Laws, Vincent C. Robinson, and Eloise Laws as Lena Horne
Theme Singer: Clare Frances Peterson
Musical Direction: Jan Van Sickle with musical guest Lionel Young on violin
Sound Effects: Gabriel
Engineers: Little Darren Gabbert, Mike "Big Daddy" Pappas and Gentleman John Minty
February: Black History Month
English
Celebrated jazz singer Lena Horne began her career at the Cotton Club in Harlem when she was only 16 years old. Her first show there headlined Cab Calloway and his band and kicked off an illustrious career that included associations with such legendary figures as Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn, and Harry Belafonte and earned her a place among the great performers of jazz. In 1981, her electrifying one-woman show on Broadway, "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music," was honored with a special Tony Award.
In the early days, she was referred to as a "cafe au lait Hedy Lamarr" and a "chocolate chanteuse." Even after she achieved stardom as a singer, she was refused a room at the hotels where she was performing--even in New York City as late as 1942--because she was black. In the Hollywood of the 1940s, she says she was invited to parties only with the unwritten understanding that she provide the entertainment. In this production Ms. Horne is protrayed by the great Eloise Laws of the famous Laws musical family that include Ronnie, Hubert and Debra.
More information about the series can be found at www.blackradiodays.com.
