Shirley Horn (May 1, 1934 in Washington, D.C. – October 20, 2005) was an American jazz singer and pianist.

Collaborated with many jazz greats like Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Toots Thielemans.

Horn first achieved fame in 1960, when Miles Davis discovered her. She had, though, recorded several songs with violinist Stuff Smith in 1959 both as a pianist and a singer. After her discovery by Davis, she recorded several albums on different labels in the early 1960s. She was popular with jazz critics, but never achieved much popular success. From the late-1960s, she began to raise a family and limited her performing to her native Washington, D.C.

Once her family was grown, she began touring more widely from 1978 onwards. She is best known for her recordings with Verve Records since 1987. Horn was nominated for nine Grammy Awards during her career, winning in 1999 for Jazz Vocal Album for I Remember Miles, a tribute to her friend and encourager.

Preferring to perform in small settings, as with her trio, she recorded with orchestra too, as on the 1992 album Here's to life, which is highly rated by her fans, the title song being generally considered as her signature song. Arranger Johnny Mandel won the Grammy Award for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocal(s) for that album. A follow-up was made in 2001, named You're My Thrill.

She was officially recognized by the 109th US Congress for "her many achievements and contributions to the world of jazz and American culture".

Due to health problems in the early 2000s, she had to cut back on her appearances. From 2002, a foot amputation forced her to leave the piano playing to pianist George Mesterhazy. In late 2004, she felt able of playing again, and recorded a live album for Verve live at Vine Street with trompet player Roy Hargrove, which did not satisfy her. It remains unreleased except for three tracks on But Beautiful - the best of Shirley Horn.

She had been battling breast cancer and diabetes when she died, aged 71.

External links

• Shirley Horn Discography at www.JazzDiscography.com
• Washington Post obituary October 22, 2005
• Washington Post tribute October 22, 2005
• Allmusic.com article on Shirley Horn
• BBC News: Jazz star Shirley Horn dies at 71
• H.CON.RES.300

1934 births | 2005 deaths | Entertainers who died in their 70s | African American musicians | American female singers | American jazz singers | American jazz pianists | People from Washington, D.C. | Deaths from breast cancer

Shirley Horn | Shirley Horn | Shirley Horn | Shirley Horn | Shirley Horn | Shirley Horn | Shirley Horn