June 30 will mark the birthday of legendary singer, actress and civil rights activist, Lena Horne.
To celebrate her 100th birthday, on June 26, getTV is honoring Horne with an evening of her television appearances from the 1960s. Horne most notably appeared on primetime television when it was uncommon for black entertainers to do so.
“We’re so proud to present three hours featuring Lena Horne during the week of the 100th anniversary of her birth. For more recent generations who know her mainly from The Wiz, this is a chance to get more exposure to a vitally important performer who infused her performances with both elegance and intelligence. They don’t make them like Lena Horne anymore,” said Jeff Meier, Senior Vice President and General Manager of getTV
The three-event line-up includes:
9 p.m.: “Monsanto Night Presents Lena Horne”, originally broadcast on NBC in 1969. In this, she was the first black woman to “solo host” her own network primetime TV special. She performed “Stormy Weather” and “You Made Me So Happy,” as well as civil rights-centric songs like “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free.”
10 p.m.: Horne’s appearance on The Judy Garland Show, which aired on CBS in 1963. It features both doing songs by themselves, and as a duo, including “Honeysuckle Rose,” “It’s All Right with Me,” “Love,” “Meet Me in St. Louis” and “The Trolley Song.”
11 p.m.: Her appearance on Perry Como’s Kraft Music Hall, which aired in 1965. She performed New England-themed songs with Como like “Moonlight in Vermont” and “Old Cape Cod.”
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