Shirley Valerie Horn (May 1, 1934 – October 20, 2005) was an American jazz … Read Full Bio ↴Shirley Valerie Horn (May 1, 1934 – October 20, 2005) was an American jazz singer and pianist. She collaborated with many jazz greats including Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, Toots Thielemans, Ron Carter, Carmen McRae, Wynton Marsalis and others. She was most noted for her ability to accompany herself with nearly incomparable independence and ability on the piano while singing, something described by arranger Johnny Mandel as "like having two heads", and for her rich, lush voice, a smoky contralto, which was described by noted producer and arranger Quincy Jones as "like clothing, as she seduces you with her voice". Although she could swing as strongly as any straight-ahead jazz artist, Horn's reputation rode on her exquisite ballad work.

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).

It Never Entered My Mind
Shirley Horn Lyrics

We have lyrics for 'It Never Entered My Mind' by these artists:

Alan Braden & His Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Anita O'Day & Billy May Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Anita O'Day with Billy May & His Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Benny Goodman & Benny Goodman and His Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Benny Goodman & His Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Benny Goodman and His Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Benny Goodman and His Orchestra With Helen Forrest Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Benny Goodman Helen Forrest Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Benny Goodman; Benny Goodman & His Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…

Bobby Troup I don't care if there's powder on my nose. I don't…
Botti Chris I don't care if there's powder on my nose I don't…
Boyd Raeburn Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Carla Helmbrecht Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Charlie Watts Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Chet Baker "Chet" Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Chris Botti I don't care if there's powder on my nose I don't…
Chris Connor Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Christian Jacob Trio Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Dawn Upshaw Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Eddie Fisher Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Ella Fitzgerald Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
gene harris & scott hamilton quintet Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Hal Derwin Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Horace Silver Miles Davis and Art Blakey Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Jack Hylton and His Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Jane Monheit I don't care if there's powder on my nose I don't…
Jane Russell I don't care if there's powder on my nose. I don't…
Joe Loss & His Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Johanna Grussner Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Johnny Hartman Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Julie London I don't care if there's powder on my nose. I don't…
June Christy Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
keith jarrett gary peacock jack dejohnette Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Kent Stacey I don't care if there's powder on my nose. I don't…
Lee Wiley Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Lee Wiley Ellis Larkins Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Linda Ronstadt I don't care if there's powder on my nose I don't…
Linda Ronstadt and Nelson Riddle & His Orchestra I don't care if there's powder on my nose I don't…
Linda Ronstadt with Nelson Riddle & his Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Linda Ronstadt with Nelson Riddle and his Orchestra I don't care if there's powder on my nose I don't…
Lorenz Hart/Richard Rodgers Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Mark Murphy Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Miles Davis feat. The Miles Davis Quintet John Coltrane Red Garland Paul Chambers Philly Joe Jon Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Miles Davis Quartet Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Miles Davis　Quintet Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Mulgrew Miller I don't care if there's powder on my nose I don&#x…
Nancy Gilliland Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Nancy Wilson Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Oscar Peterson & Singers Unlimited Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Oscar Peterson & The Singers Unlimited Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Oscar Peterson; The Singers Unlimited Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Rigmor Gustafsson Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Rigmor Gustafsson & Nils Landgren Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Rodgers Richard Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Rodgers/Hart Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Rosemary Clooney Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Roy Eldridge Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Sarah Vaughan I don't care if there's powder on my nose I don't…
Sarah Vaughan with Hal Mooney And His Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Stacey Kent I don't care if there's powder on my nose. I don't…
Stan Getz Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Stan Getz Oscar Peterson Ray Brown Herb Ellis Connie Kay J.J. Johnson Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Stan Kenton & His Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Susannah McCorkle Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Susannah McCorkle / Allen Farnham / Dennis Irwin / Frank Wess / Howard Alden / Keith Copeland Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
The Down & Outs Well take it sleazy Cheap like a daydream The taste was…
The Embassy Thought I had a wisdom To think things over Thought I was…
The Miles Davis Quartet Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
The Supremes I don't care if there's powder on my nose I don't…
Till Br?nner Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Till Brönner Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Till Brцnner Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Vic Damone Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Wynton Marsalis Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…
Zutty Singleton And His Orchestra Once I laughed when I heard you saying That I'd be…

We have lyrics for these tracks by Shirley Horn:

01. My Funny Valentine My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine You make me smile…
03 He Was Good To Me There goes my young intended The thing has ended Regrets are…
03. Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' Don't let the sun catch you cryin' Cryin' at my front…
06-YOU'RE NEARER You’re nearer than my head is to my pillow Nearer than…
12. You Stepped Out Of A Dream You stepped out of a dream You are too wonderful to…
13 you wont forget me You won't forget me, though you may try I'm part of…
14 all my tomorrows Today I may not have a thing at all Except for…
15. I Wanna Be Loved i wanna be loved with inspriation i wanna be loved, starting…
16. Hit the Road Jack (Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no…
21 Wouldn't It Be Loverly All I want is a room somewhere, Far away from the…
A Song For You I've been so many places in my life and time I've…
A Time For Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
After You Now won't you listen honey, while I say, How could…
After You've Gone Now won't you listen honey, while I say, How could…
All My Tomorrows Today I may not have a thing at all Except for…
All Night Long The day is my enemy, the night my friend, For I'm…
All Or Nothing At All All or nothing at all Half a love, never appealed to…
All Through The Night The day is my enemy, the night my friend, For I'm…
And I Love Him I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
Baby What makes me treat you the way I do Gee,…
Baby Baby All the Time Once I had a man, sweet as he could be Once…
Baby Won't You Please Come Home I've got the blues, I feel so lonely I'd give…
Baby, Won't You Please Come Home I've got the blues, I feel so lonely I'd give the…
Basin St. Blues Won't you come along with me To the Mississippi We'll take…
Basin Street Blues Won't you come along with me To the Mississippi We'll take a…
Beautiful Friendship This is the end of a beautiful friendship, It ended a…
Beautiful Love Beautiful Love Shirley Horn You Won't Forget Me Beautiful l…
Best Is Yet to Come Out of the tree of life I just picked me…
But Beautiful Love is funny or it's sad, Or it's quiet or…
Bye Bye Bye Bye bye, love, bye bye, happiness Hello loneliness, I think…
Bye Bye Love Bye bye, love, bye bye, happiness Hello loneliness, I think …
Close Enough For Love You and I, an unmatched pair Took the time to touch,…
Come A Little Closer / Wild Is The Wind Come a little closer I will sing you my song Just a…
Come Back To Me Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away If you…
Come Dance With Me (Sugardaddy Remix Tom Findlay (Groove Armada Hey there cutes, put on your dancin' boots And come dance…
Come Fly With Me Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away If you…
Come In From The Rain Well, hello there Good old friend of mine You've been reac…
Come On Home I've got the blues, I feel so lonely I'd give…
Come Play with Me Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away If you…
Come Rain or Come Shine Well, hello there Good old friend of mine You've been reac…
Confession I never kissed a man before Oh, isn't that a shame? I…
Day By Day Only the clouds remain They seem to cause me pain cnd days…
Do It Again You really shouldn't have done it You hadn't any right I r…
Don Don't let the sun catch you cryin' Cryin' at my front…
Don't Be On The Outside Don't be on the outside looking on the inside If you're…
Don't Let The Sun Catch You Cryin' Don't let the sun catch you cryin' Cryin' at my front…
Don’t Be on the Outside Don't be on the outside looking on the inside If you're…
Don’T Let The Sun Catch You Cryin’ Don't let the sun catch you cryin' Cryin' at my front…
Drown In My Ovn Tears It brings a tear into my eyes When I begin to…
Estate Sei calda come i baci che ho perduto Sei piena di…
Everything Must Change Everything must change Nothing stays the same Everyone must …
Fever Never know how much I love you Never know how much…
Foolin' Myself I try to keep you out of my heart But…
Forget Me Dil unglaa naal banauna, Meri hikk te sir rakh sauna, Mainu …
Gee What makes me treat you the way I do Gee,…
Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You What makes me treat you the way I do Gee,…
Get Out Of Town The farce was ended, The curtains drawn, And I at least pret…
Go Away Little Boy go way little boy go away little boy i'm not supposed…
Good For Nothing Joe It's gonna rain any minute, There's not a star in sight; Thi…
Good-For-Nothin It's gonna rain any minute, There's not a star in sight; T…
Good-For-Nothin' Joe It's gonna rain any minute, There's not a star in sight; Thi…
Green It's not that easy being green Having to spend each day…
Hard Hearted Hannah In old Savannah, I said Savannah, The weather there is nice…
He Was Too Good To Me There goes my young intended The thing has ended Regrets a…
Here No complaints and no regrets I still believe in chasing drea…
Hit the Road (Hit the road Jack and don't you come back no…
How Am I To Know Oh, how am I to know if it's really love…
How Insensitive How insensitive I must have seemed When he told me that he…
How Long Has This Been Goin I could cry salty tears Where have I been all…
I i wanna be loved with inspriation i wanna be loved, starti…
I Could Have Told You I could have told you he'd hurt you, He'd love you…
i didn I wish I didn't love you so My love for you Should…
I Didn't Know What Time It Was Once I was young, yesterday, perhaps Danced with Jim and Pau…
I Didn`t Know What Time It Wa Once I was young, yesterday, perhaps Danced with Jim and Pa…
I Fall In Love To Easily I fall in love too easily, I fall in love…
I Got A Man Don't ask me just how it happened I wish I knew I…
I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good The poets say that all who love are blind But I'm…
I Got Lost In His Arms Don't ask me just how it happened I wish I knew I…
I Got Plenty O Oh, I got plenty o' nuttin' And nuttin's plenty for me I…
I Guess I When I want rain, I get sunny weather, I'm just as…
I Guess I'll Hang My Tears Out To Dry When I want rain, I get sunny weather, I'm just as…
I Just Found Out About Love I just found out about love and I like it,…
I Loves You Porgy / Here Comes De Honey Man I love you, Porgy Don't let him take me Don't let him…
I Wanna Be Loved i wanna be loved with inspriation i wanna be loved, starting…
I Want To Be With You I want to be with you I want to be with…
I Watch You Sleep Why won't you stay I need to know your love is there…
I Wish I Didn I wish I didn't love you so My love for you Should…
I Wish I Didn't Love You So I wish I didn't love you so My love for you Should…
I'm In The Mood For Love I'm in the mood for love Simply because you're near me. Funn…
I've Got the World on a String I've got the world on a string I'm sitting on a…
If I Had You I could show the world how to smile I could be…
If You Go I could show the world how to smile I could be…
If You Love Me Let me love you Let me say that you do If you…
In Love In Vain It's only human for anyone to want to be in…
In The Dark In the dark, in the dark, just you and I Not…
It I've always been just a little bit involved With this boy…
It Could Happen To You Hide your heart from sight, Lock your dreams at night, It co…
It Had To Be You It had to be you, it had to be you. I…
It's Love I've always been just a little bit involved With this boy…
I’ve Got the World on a String I've got the world on a string I'm sitting on a…
Just a Little Lovin Just a little lovin,' yeah Will go a long way Well you…
Just For A Thrill Just for a thrill You changed the sunshine to rain Just for…
Just In Time I was resting comfortably, face down in the gutter Life was…
Keepin Out of Mischief Now Don't even go to a movie show If you're not by…
Lazy Afternoon It's a lazy afternoon And the beetle bugs are zoomin' And th…
Let Me Love You Let me love you Let me say that you do If you…
Loads of Love I never have been handed much I never have demanded much I…
Love For Sale When the only sound in the empty street Is the heavy…
Love Is Here To Stay It's very clear, our love is here to stay Not for…
Love You Madly Love you madly Right or wrong Sounds like a lyric of a…
Lover Man I don't know why, but I'm feeling so sad I long…
Mack The Knife Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear And it shows…
Makin Another bride, another June Another sunny honeymoon Another …
Makin' Whoopee Another bride, another June Another sunny honeymoon Anothe…
May The Music Never End The years go rushing by The moment more I see, the…
Memories Of You Waking skies - at sunrise Every sunset too Seems to be -…
More Than You Know More than you know, more than you know Man of my…
My It's cost me a lot But there's one thing that I've…
My Funny Valentine My funny valentine, sweet comic valentine You make me smile …
My Future Just Passed There goes the boy I dreamed all through school about, There…
My Heart Stood Still I took one look at you That's all I meant to…
My Man It's cost me a lot But there's one thing that I've…
Never Let Me Go Never let me go, Love me much too much, If you let…
Nice 'N' Easy Let's take it nice and easy It's gonna be so easy For…
Nice N Easy Let's take it nice and easy It's gonna be so easy For…
On The Street Where You Live I have often walked down this street before But the pavement…
Once I Loved i wanna be loved with inspriation i wanna be loved, starting…
Only The Lonely Each place I go, only the lonely go Some little small…
Our Love Is Here To Stay It's very clear, our love is here to stay Not for…
Peel Me A Grape Peel me a grape, crush me some ice Skin me…
Quietly There I fall in love too easily, I fall in love…
Return 2 Paradise Come my love with me Across the sea, Return to paradise! All…
Rules of the Road So these are the ropes The tricks of the trade The rules…
Second Time Around Love is lovelier the second time around Just as wonderful wi…
So I Love You I wish I didn't love you so My love for you Should…
Softly as I Leave You Softly I will leave you softly For my heart would…
Solitary Moon When the night Is wrapped around us And the dawn might com…
Some of My Best Friends Are the Blues Come in & join the party….we're running out of cheer Don't…
Someone To Light Up My Life Go on your way, With a cloudless blue sky above May all…
Something Happens To Me 不夠熟的都說我天真身邊的朋友全罵我笨總奮不顧身換累累傷痕我懂愛不是無所不能但至少愛了就有可能地球是圓的愛會…
Soothe Me Soothe me baby, soothe me Soothe me with your kindness For…
Summer It's only human for anyone to want to be in…
Summer (Estate) Estate You bath me in the glow of your caresses You've turne…
Sunday In New York New York on Sunday, Big City taking a nap! Slow down, it's…
Take Love Easy Easy Take love easy, easy easy Never let your feelings sho…
Ten Cents A Dance Ten cents a dance, that's what they pay me Gosh, how…
That That old black magic has me in its spell, that…
That's No Joke Now when you're out, out on the town running around you…
The Best Is Yet To Come Out of the tree of life I just picked me…
The Christmas Song Chestnuts roasting on an open fire Jack Frost nipping at you…
The Good Life Oh, the good life, full of fun, Seems to be…
The Look Of Love The look of love Is in your eyes A look your smile…
The Music That Makes Me Dance I know you're around when the sky and the ground…
The Rules Of The Road So these are the ropes The tricks of the trade The rules…
The Second Time Around Love is lovelier the second time around Just as wonderful w…
There I fall in love too easily, I fall in love…
There's A Boat That's Leavin' Soon For New York That's the thing, ain' it? An' membuh there's. Where that c…
This Can't Be Love This can't be love Because I feel so well No sobs, no…
Travelin I'm trav'lin' light Because my man has gone So from now on…

and many more tracks by Shirley Horn.

The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos

TRACKS