Shirley Horn was born and raised in Washington, D.C.. Encouraged by her grandmother, an amateur organist, Horn began piano lessons at the age of four. Aged 12, she studied piano and composition at Howard University, later graduating from there in classical music. Horn was offered a place at the Juilliard School, but her family could not afford to send her there. Horn formed her first jazz piano trio when she was 20. Horn's early piano influences were Erroll Garner, Oscar Peterson and Ahmad Jamal, and moving away from her classical background, Horn later said that "Oscar Peterson became my Rachmaninov, and Ahmad Jamal became my Debussy." She then became enamored with the famous U Street jazz area of Washington (largely destroyed in the 1968 riots), sneaking into jazz clubs before she was of legal age.
Horn first achieved fame in 1960, through her association with Miles Davis. Davis' praise had particular resonance in two respects: because he was so highly respected as a musician, and because he rarely offered public praise for fellow musicians at that time. Horn 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 albums on different small labels in the early 1960s, eventually landing contracts with larger labels Mercury Records and Impulse Records. She was popular with jazz critics, but did not achieve significant popular success.
Quincy Jones attempted to make Horn into a pure vocalist in several recording sessions, something he later hinted may have been a mistake. Horn was also disturbed by the changes in popular music in the 1960s following the arrival of The Beatles. Largely rejecting efforts to remake her into a popular singer, she stated: "I will not stoop to conquer."[4] From the late-1960s, she concentrated on raising her daughter Rainy with her husband, Shepherd Deering (whom she had married in 1955), and largely limited her performances to her native Washington, D.C.
Miles Davis made a rare appearance as a sideman on Horn's 1991 album You Won't Forget Me. Although she preferred to perform in small settings, such as her trio, she also recorded with orchestras, as on the 1992 album Here's to Life, the title song (lyrics by Phyllis Molinary, music by Artie Butler) of which became her signature song. A video documentary of Horn's life and music was released at the same time as "Here's To Life" and shared its title. At the time, arranger Johnny Mandel commented that Horn's piano skill was comparable to that of the noted jazz great Bill Evans. A follow-up was made in 2001, named You're My Thrill.
Horn worked with the same rhythm section for 25 years: Charles Ables (bass) and Steve Williams (drums). Don Heckman wrote in the Los Angeles Times (February 2, 1995) about "the importance of bassist Charles Ables and drummer Steve Williams to Horn's sound. Working with boundless subtlety, following her every spontaneous twist and turn, they were the ideal accompanists for a performer who clearly will tolerate nothing less than perfection".
Her albums Here's to Life, Light Out of Darkness (A Tribute to Ray Charles) and I Love You, Paris all reached number one on the Billboard jazz charts.
Due to health problems in the early 2000s, Horn had to cut back on her performances. After 2002, a foot amputation (from complications of diabetes) led her to leave the piano playing to pianist George Mesterhazy. In late 2004, Horn felt able to play piano again, and recorded a live album for Verve, at Manhattan's Au Bar with trumpet player Roy Hargrove, which did not satisfy her.[citation needed] It remains unreleased except for tracks on But Beautiful - The Best of Shirley Horn.
A breast cancer survivor, she had been battling diabetes when she died of complications from the condition, aged 71. She is interred at Ft. Lincoln Cemetery in Washington, D.C.
Horn was nominated for nine Grammy Awards during her career, winning the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards for I Remember Miles, a tribute to her friend and mentor (the album's cover featuring a Miles Davis drawing of them both).
She was officially recognized by the 109th US Congress for "her many achievements and contributions to the world of jazz and American culture", and performed at The White House for several U.S. presidents. Horn was awarded an honorary Doctor of Music degree from the Berklee College of Music in 2002.
She was awarded the National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Masters Award in 2005 (the highest honors that the United States bestows upon jazz musicians).
A Song for You
Shirley Horn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I've sung a lot of songs I've made some bad rhyme
I've acted out my love in stages
With ten thousand people watching
But we're alone now and I'm singing this song for you
I know your image of me is what I hope to be
I've treated you unkindly but darlin' can't you see
Darlin' can't you please see through me
Cause we're alone now and I'm singing this song for you
You taught me precious secrets of the truth withholding nothing
You came out in front and I was hiding
But now I'm so much better and if my words don't come together
Listen to the melody cause my love is in there hiding
I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I love you for in my life you are a friend of mine
And when my life is over
Remember when we were together
We were alone and I was singing this song for you
You taught me precious secrets of the truth withholding nothing
You came out in front and I was hiding
But now I'm so much better and if my words don't come together
Listen to the melody cause my love is in there hiding
I love you in a place where there's no space or time
I love you for in my life you are a friend of mine
And when my life is over
Remember when we were together
We were alone and I was singing this song for you
We were alone and I was singing this song for you
The song "A Song For You" by Shirley Horn talks about the singer's life experiences and how they have led her to this moment of singing this song for someone special. She reflects on how she has traveled to many places, performed in front of thousands of people, and even made some bad choices along the way. However, despite all of this, she is now alone and singing this song directly to the person she cares for.
In the second verse, she confesses to this person that she knows they have an image of her that she hopes to live up to, but that she has not always been kind to them. Nevertheless, she wants them to understand how important they are to her and the depth of her feelings. She then goes on to express gratitude for this person for teaching her “precious secrets of the truth” and helping her overcome some of her own shortcomings.
Overall, the song's message is about expressing love and gratitude to someone special and acknowledging the role they have played in the singer's life. It exemplifies the need to appreciate people we have who helped or are still helping us, and reminds us that despite everything, love can stand the test of time.
Line by Line Meaning
I've been so many places in my life and time
Throughout my life, I've traveled to many different places at different points in time.
I've sung a lot of songs I've made some bad rhyme
Among the places I've been to, I've performed many songs, some of which were not smooth in terms of lyrics.
I've acted out my love in stages
I have showcased my love in different ways, mostly through performances.
With ten thousand people watching
During those performances, there were usually crowds of thousands who would watch me.
But we're alone now and I'm singing this song for you
Currently, however, we are not in the midst of a crowd, just me and you, and I'm singing a song for you only.
I know your image of me is what I hope to be
I'm aware of the persona you have of me, which is how I would like to be perceived.
I've treated you unkindly but darlin' can't you see
I must admit that I have not always been kind to you, but I hope you can see past those times.
There's no one more important to me
I want you to know that there is no one else who holds more significance to me than you.
Darlin' can't you please see through me
I'm begging you to see beyond my mistakes and understand my true intentions.
You taught me precious secrets of the truth withholding nothing
You have opened up to me and revealed valuable secrets without holding back anything.
You came out in front and I was hiding
You showed immense bravery while I was desperately trying to hide from everyone.
But now I'm so much better and if my words don't come together
Now, I have greatly improved, and even if my words don't express my feelings well, please listen to the melody.
Listen to the melody cause my love is in there hiding
The melody of this song contains my love for you even though it might not be portrayed through the words.
I love you in a place where there's no space or time
My love for you extends beyond physical and chronological boundaries.
I love you for in my life you are a friend of mine
I love you not only as a romantic partner but also as a true friend who has been a significant part of my life.
And when my life is over
When my life comes to an end.
Remember when we were together
I want you to remember the times we spent together.
We were alone and I was singing this song for you
We were alone together, and I was singing this song solely for you.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Leon Russell
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
jimmy ginseng
There was some definite passion, real soul and raw emotion with this rendition of hers. Shirley Horn is truly an authentic and very talented artist. it seems almost a shame that I didn't discover her sooner. But her and I now have the rest of my time on this planet to mingle with one another. Her music will forever be in the foreground of my mind.
David Moore
Beyond sublime. A unique voice that seduces you into stopping what you are doing and focus. Never background music. It makes you stop, look and listen.
M. Golden
Just absolutely incredible!
alexandre mendes correa
A really legendary singer. There are definitely people who came into the world to go down in history.
James Rivas
Leon's song is timeless,she makes it sound new with this rendition.She plays the piano great.
Anthony Partridge
The definitive version of this great song.
Brilliant. Outstanding.
Tony
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Genny Lim
Shirley was her own horn. She didn't need any extras. Just her and that piano said it all with subtle intimacy and feeling unique unto herself.
Cristina Avila
Impressionantemente bela!
E. Jones
I first hear this voice on the Jazz Ark (WNOP) the station floating on the river, the Jazz Ark has passed on. Still I remember that day, that voice, and each note, one after the other sublime, and so charming.
Rodolfo Fenoglio
A wonderful singer and an unbelievable pianist...