Shirley Horn

Shirley Horn has been called “the preeminent jazz vocalist of her generation” and “an incomparable original” by Don Heckman of the Los Angeles Times and has been lauded by everyone from Barbra Streisand to Barry Manilow. Born in Washington, DC, Horn began studying the piano at age four and was in her late teens when she attended Howard University. In 1954, she formed her first trio, but her recording career didn’t actually start until the early 1960s. Her early supporters included Quincy Jone and Miles Davis who even refused to perform at the Village Vanguard unless owner Max Gordon allowed Shirley to perform as well; David got his way.