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 Time For Love
Shirley Horn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Simply because you're near me.
Funny, but when you're near me
I'm in the mood for love.
Heaven is in your eyes
Bright as the stars we're under
Oh! Is it any wonder
Why stop to think of whether
This little dream might fade?
We've put our hearts together
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
If there's a cloud above
If it should rain we'll let it
But for tonight, forget it!
I'm in the mood for love
Shirley Horn's "I'm in the Mood for Love" is a song about the beauty of love and a person's intense feelings when they are close to the one they love. The song begins with the singer expressing that they are in the mood for love simply because he or she is in the presence of their loved one. The singer believes that the magic of love can be felt strongly when the person they love is near.
The second verse of the song continues in the same vein, with the singer describing the intense feelings they get from being with their loved one. The singer characterizes the eyes of their lover as heaven and the stars, and how they feel under a starry sky. The singer is so taken by their lover that they wonder if it's any surprise that they are in the mood for love.
The final verse is a reminder to the loved one that no matter what the future holds, they have put their hearts together to become one, and nothing can really separate them. Even if a cloud looms above and it starts to rain, the singer is asking his or her loved one to forget about it, and to cherish the moment they have together. The song is a beautiful testament to love and the magic that surrounds it.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm in the mood for love
I am feeling romantically inspired and desiring love.
Simply because you're near me.
My feelings are inspired by your presence in close proximity to me.
Funny, but when you're near me
It is unusual to me that my feelings are so deeply affected by your presence.
Heaven is in your eyes
I believe that I can see an angelic quality in your beautiful eyes.
Bright as the stars we're under
The sparkle in your eyes is as luminous and hypnotic as the stars shining above us.
Oh! Is it any wonder
It is not surprising to me that I feel this way about you.
Why stop to think of whether
There is no need to consider or worry about potential drawbacks or negative outcomes.
This little dream might fade?
Should this fleeting moment of passion and desire cease to exist?
We've put our hearts together
We have opened ourselves up to each other and come together emotionally.
Now we are one, I'm not afraid!
I am confident and unafraid, knowing that we are united as one heart and soul.
If there's a cloud above
If there is anything negative or inconvenient happening.
If it should rain we'll let it
We will not let minor inconveniences overshadow our love and passion.
But for tonight, forget it!
Let us focus on our love and forget about everything else for this one magical night.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Dorothy Fields, Jimmy Mchugh
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Campolongo Campolongo
A time for summer skies
For hummingbirds and butterflies
For tender words that harmonize with love
A time for climbing hills
For leaning out of windowsills
Admiring daffodils above
A time for holding hands together
A time for rainbow coloured weather
A time of make believe that we've been dreaming of
As time goes drifting by
The willow bends and so do I
But all my friends whatever skies above
I know a time for spring
A time for fall
But best of all
A time for love
A time for holding hands together
A time for rainbow coloured weather
A time of make believe that we've been dreaming of
As time goes drifting by
The willow bends and so do I
But all my friends whatever skies above
I know a time for spring
A time for fall
But best of all
A time for love
Ish Ledesma
I've bought her "Here's To Life" CD 4 times. I've completely worn them out each time. It's definitely the album that I've listened to more than any other. She is simply "in the song" every single time. She was also an incredible musician. She played piano on all her recordings. A perfect piano, a perfect singer and perfect song choices every time. God bless Shirley:)
ninalovescake
i would give anything to have been able to see her live...Shirley is by far my absolute favorite to listen to! She seems so wise and all-knowing. Every time I hear her, I feel like I'm under a spell! Her voice is so beautiful and natural she doesn't try to be anything but herself. I positively treasure her music!!! AGH ILOVESHIRLEYHORN!!!!!!!!!
Andrea Williams
Her voice is so sensual,beautiful and ageless. Shirley's my favorite of all time...
loulou2lou
You have to feel Shirley with your heart to understand the depths of her talent.She was a great interpreter of jazz.The" Her's To Life" CD belongs in every serious jazz lovers collection.For me it is one of my most cherished possessions. Shirley was Master Class and i miss her.
OrganCat
She reads your mind and knows exactly how you're digesting and reacting to EVERY syllable. A Master. There is nothing more you can say. My buddy worked on bass with her many years ago and relates that she was just as loving and giving a person as she was a musician. She loved cooking for everyone!
Cosme Adrover Vidal
Shirley Horn,Una de las mas grandes cantantes y extraordinaria pianista,jamás escuché a nadie acompañándose al piano como ella.DIVINA!!!
Warren Perry
This literally brings tears to my eyes. Such a timeless gift to music in the person of Shirley Horn. Thank you so much for sharing.
Juanita Jordan-Joyner
+Warren Perry I have to comment...this lady I discovered two years ago and find her captivating. Her vocals...the delivery of lyrics takes you to days of old. It must have been fabulous to have been in this era of real music. Her song Here's To Life has a special meaning to me. It brings tears to my eyes. Enjoy.
Robert L. Gonzales
+Juanita Jordan Check out my "country" version of the song with my niece Sonia Harrison on youtube "Sonia Harrison sings here's to life" we tried to cover the Shirley Horn version...without the orchestra of course. The song also has a very special meaning to me and my niece.
Juanita Jordan-Joyner
+Robert L. Gonzales Okay...will do...thank you Robert.