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).
Come Rain Or Come Shine
Shirley Horn Lyrics
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Good old friend of mine
You've been reaching for yourself
For such a long time
There's so much to say
No need to explain
Just an open door for you
To come in from the rain
It's a long road
When you're all alone
And a man like you
Belong ways to a long way home
There's no right or wrong
I'm not here to blame
I just want to be the one
Who keeps you from the rain
From the rain
And it looks like some disguise
Now that i know you're alright
Time has left us older
Wiser, i know i am
'cause i think of us
Like an old cliche
But it doesn't matter
'cause i love you anyway
Coming from the rain
And it looks like some disguise
Now that i know you're alright
Time has left us older
Wiser, i know i am
And it's good to know
My best friend has come home again
'cause i think of us
Like an old cliche
But it doesn't matter
'cause i love you anyway
Coming from the rain
Come in from the rain
Come in from the rain
In Shirley Horn's song "Come In From The Rain," she addresses a friend who has been struggling alone for a long time. There is no need for explanation or justification for what has happened or how they ended up where they are, as she opens up the door for her friend to come in from the rain. The rain is a symbol of the hardships and difficulties that have kept the friend isolated and struggling on their own. Horn doesn't place any blame on her friend, nor does she proclaim to understand everything they have gone through. Instead, she acts as a beacon of light to guide her friend out of the rain and into a place where they can find love and support.
The song is an emotional and relatable plea to a friend who has lost their way. Horn's lyrics are powerful and poignant, evoking a sense of empathy and compassion that anyone who has lived through tough times can relate to. The line "And it looks like some disguise, now that I know you're alright," speaks to the way that our struggles can act as a disguise, and once they are lifted, we can see each other more clearly. Horn sees her friend for who they are and wants to provide a safe space for them to regroup and find their way back home.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, hello there
Greeting to an old friend who has probably been away for a while
Good old friend of mine
Acknowledging the long-standing and mutual friendship between the two individuals
You've been reaching for yourself, for such a long time
Noticing that the friend has been trying to find themselves and has been away for quite a while
There's so much to say, no need to explain
Acknowledging that the reunion between the two friends is important and that there will be much to discuss
Just an open door for you, to come in from the rain
Offering a welcoming environment for the friend to come in and catch up
It's a long road, when you're all alone
Recognizing that the journey of life can be challenging and lonely, particularly without the support of loved ones
And a man like you, belong ways to a long way home
Noting that the friend has a unique perspective on life and has likely traveled far to get to where they are now
There's no right or wrong, I'm not here to blame
Assuring the friend that there is no judgement or blame for any past actions or decisions
I just want to be the one, who keeps you from the rain, from the rain
Expressing a desire to be a source of comfort and protection for the friend going forward
And it looks like some disguise, now that I know you're alright
Noticing that the friend has likely gone through changes and overcome hardships, but is now doing well
Time has left us older, wiser, I know I am
Reflecting on the passage of time and how it has changed the individuals, specifically the singer's increased wisdom
'Cause I think of us, like an old cliche
Acknowledging that the friendship is a familiar and perhaps even predictable one
But it doesn't matter, 'cause I love you anyway
Declaring that the predictability of the friendship does not affect the deep love the singer has for their friend
Coming from the rain
Affirming that the friend has endured hardships and challenges, but is now in a better place
And it's good to know, my best friend has come home again
Expressing joy and relief that the friend has returned home safely
Come in from the rain, come in from the rain
Reiterating the previous invitation to the friend to come inside and enjoy the warmth and comfort of home
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc., BMG Rights Management, CARLIN AMERICA INC
Written by: CAROLE BAYER SAGER, MELISSA MANCHESTER, MELISSA TONI MANCHESTER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind