Shirley Horn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Shirley Horn
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Publicity photo from 1961
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Shirley Valerie Horn |
| Born | May 1, 1934 Washington, D.C., U.S. |
| Died | October 20, 2005 (aged 71) |
| Genres | Jazz, blues |
| Occupation(s) | Musician |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1959–2004 |
| Labels | Stere-o-craft (1960) Mercury (1963) ABC-Paramount (1965) Perception (1972) SteepleChase (1978-81) CBS (1985) Verve (1987-2005) |
| Associated acts | Miles Davis Charles Ables Steve Williams |
Shirley Valerie Horn (born May 1, 1934 – died October 20, 2005) was an amazing American jazz singer and pianist. She was known for her unique ability to play the piano and sing at the same time. It was like she had "two heads," as one arranger said! Shirley Horn worked with many famous jazz musicians. These included Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and Wynton Marsalis. Her voice was rich and beautiful, making her a beloved artist.
Contents
Early Life and Musical Beginnings
Shirley Horn grew up in Washington, D.C.. Her grandmother, who played the organ, encouraged her to start piano lessons. Shirley began playing when she was just four years old. By age 12, she was studying piano and music writing at Howard University. She later graduated with a degree in classical music. Shirley was even offered a spot at the famous Juilliard School. However, her family could not afford for her to go.
Discovering Jazz Music
When she was 20, Shirley Horn started her first jazz piano group. She loved the music of jazz pianists like Erroll Garner and Oscar Peterson. Shirley once said that Oscar Peterson became her "Rachmaninov," a famous classical composer. She also loved the jazz clubs in the U Street area of Washington. She would sneak into these clubs even before she was old enough.
Shirley Horn's Music Career
Shirley Horn's first album, Embers and Ashes, came out in 1960. A small record company in New York City discovered her. Before this, she had played piano for violinist Stuff Smith in 1959. But her name was not listed on that album, so it did not help her career much.
How Miles Davis Helped Her Career
Her album Embers and Ashes caught the attention of jazz trumpeter Miles Davis. He was a very respected musician and rarely praised others publicly. Miles Davis loved Shirley's music and invited her to play during his breaks at the Village Vanguard club. This praise from Miles Davis was a huge boost for her career. A live performance from 1961 was later released as "Live" at the Village Vanguard.
Working with Big Record Labels
By 1962, Mercury Records noticed Shirley Horn. The vice-president, Quincy Jones, signed her to the label. On her two albums with Mercury, she sang with a jazz orchestra but did not play the piano. Her last album of the 1960s was Travelin' Light in 1965. Jazz critics liked her music, but she did not become widely famous at that time.
Shirley Horn did not want to change her style to become more popular. She once said, "I will not stoop to conquer." This meant she would not lower her musical standards just to gain fame.
Taking a Break and Returning to Music
From the late 1960s to the late 1970s, Shirley took a break from music. She stayed in Washington, D.C., to raise her daughter, Rainy, with her husband. She mostly played local shows during this time. She made one album in 1972, but it did not get much attention.
In 1978, a Danish record company called SteepleChase Records found her. They offered to record her with drummer Billy Hart and bassist Buster Williams. This led to her album A Lazy Afternoon. She then recorded three more albums with SteepleChase. Shirley also started performing again in North America and Europe.
Success with Verve Records
In 1987, Shirley Horn signed with Verve Records. This was a big step for her career. Her first album with Verve was I Thought About You. She released 11 albums with Verve during her lifetime. Her years with Verve were her most successful, helping her reach a large audience around the world.
Miles Davis even played on her 1991 album, You Won't Forget Me. This was a rare event for him. Shirley preferred to perform with her small trio. However, she also recorded with orchestras, like on her 1992 album Here's to Life. The song "Here's to Life" became her signature song.
Shirley Horn worked with the same rhythm section for 25 years. Charles Ables played electric bass, and Steve Williams played drums. They were perfect partners for her, always following her musical ideas.
Top Jazz Albums
Several of her albums reached number one on the Billboard jazz chart. These included Here's to Life, Light Out of Darkness (A Tribute to Ray Charles), and I Love You, Paris.
Shirley Horn was a breast cancer survivor. She passed away on October 20, 2005, at age 71, due to complications from diabetes. She is buried in Washington, D.C.
Awards and Honors
Shirley Horn received many important awards during her career.
- She was nominated for nine Grammy Awards.
- She won the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance in 1999. This was for her album I Remember Miles, which honored her friend and mentor, Miles Davis.
- The 109th US Congress officially recognized her for her contributions to jazz and American culture.
- She performed at The White House for several U.S. presidents.
- In 2002, she received an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the Berklee College of Music.
- In 2005, she received the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award. This is the highest honor for jazz musicians in the United States.
Discography
As leader
- Embers and Ashes (Stere-o-Craft, 1961) – recorded in 1960
- Loads of Love (Mercury, 1963) – recorded in 1962
- Shirley Horn with Horns (Mercury, 1963)
- Travelin' Light (ABC-Paramount, 1965)
- Where Are You Going (Perception, 1973)
- A Lazy Afternoon (SteepleChase, 1979) – recorded in 1978
- All Night Long (SteepleChase, 1981) – live
- Violets for Your Furs (SteepleChase, 1982) – live
- The Garden of the Blues (SteepleChase, 1985) – live recorded in 1984
- I Thought About You (Verve, 1987) – live
- All of Me (CBS/Sony, 1987)
- Softly (Audiophile, 1988)
- Close Enough for Love (Verve, 1989)
- You Won't Forget Me (Verve, 1991)
- Here's to Life (Verve, 1992)
- Light Out of Darkness (A Tribute to Ray Charles) (Verve, 1993)
- I Love You, Paris (Verve, 1994) – live recorded in 1992
- The Main Ingredient (Verve, 1996) – recorded in 1995
- Loving You (Verve, 1997)
- I Remember Miles (Verve, 1998) – recorded in 1997
- You're My Thrill (Verve, 2001)
- May the Music Never End (Verve, 2003)
- Live at the 1994 Monterey Jazz Festival (Concord, 2008) – live
- Live at the Four Queens (Resonance, 2016) – live
As guest
- Benny Carter, Benny Carter Songbook (MusicMasters, 1996) – recorded in 1995
- Bill Charlap, Stardust (Blue Note, 2003) – recorded in 2001
- Benny Golson, One Day, Forever (Arkadia Jazz, 2001) – recorded in 1996-2000
- Charlie Haden, The Art of the Song (Verve, 1999)
- Quincy Jones, For Love of Ivy (ABC, 1968) – Soundtrack
- Carmen McRae, Sarah: Dedicated to You (BMG/Novus, 1991)
- Oscar Peterson, A Tribute to Oscar Peterson – Live at the Town Hall (Telarc, 1997) – live recorded in 1996
- Jeffery Smith, Ramona (Gitanes/Verve, 1995)
- Stuff Smith, Cat on a Hot Fiddle (Verve, 1960) – recorded in 1959
- Clark Terry Quintet, Live on QE2 (Chiaroscuro, 2001) – live
- Toots Thielemans, For My Lady (EmArcy, 1991)
- Joe Williams, In Good Company (Verve, 1989)
- Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz with Guest Shirley Horn (Jazz Alliance, 2006) – recorded in 1984
DVD-Video
- Live at the Village Vanguard (Lucy II, 2006)
See also
In Spanish: Shirley Horn para niños
- List of jazz arrangers
