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).
Summer
Shirley Horn Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
But who wants to be in love in vain
At night you hang around the hall
And eat your heart out
And cry your eyes out
And rack your brains
You sit and wonder why anyone as wonderful as she
I thought that I would be in Heaven
But I'm only up a tree
Cause it's just my luck to be in love in vain.
You sit and wonder why anyone as wonderful as he
Should cause you such misery and pain
I thought that I would be in Heaven
But I'm only up a tree
Cause it's just my luck to be in love in vain.
The lyrics of Shirley Horn's song "In Love In Vain" describe the painful and frustrating experience of being in unrequited love. The opening lines acknowledge the natural desire for love, but also highlight the fear of being in love without it being reciprocated. The chorus repeats the phrase "in love in vain", emphasizing the sense of futility and hopelessness that comes with loving someone who doesn't feel the same way.
The second verse is interesting in that it alternates between referring to a man and a woman as the object of the singer's affection. This suggests that the experience of unrequited love is universal, regardless of gender or sexual orientation. The line "I thought that I would be in Heaven, but I'm only up a tree" uses a metaphor to convey the disappointment and disillusionment that comes with the realization that one's love is not returned.
Line by Line Meaning
It's only human for anyone to want to be in love
Being in love is a natural desire for everyone.
But who wants to be in love in vain
No one wants to experience the pain of unrequited love.
At night you hang around the hall
You spend your evenings alone and feeling despondent.
And eat your heart out
You suffer intensely and feel heartbroken.
And cry your eyes out
You weep endlessly and feel deeply saddened.
And rack your brains
You struggle to find an explanation for your pain and confusion.
You sit and wonder why anyone as wonderful as she
You question why someone so great and admirable would not reciprocate your love.
Should cause you such misery and pain
Their lack of love for you causes you to suffer deeply.
I thought that I would be in Heaven
You believed that being in love would bring you happiness.
But I'm only up a tree
Instead, you feel stuck and stranded in your pain.
Cause it's just my luck to be in love in vain.
You feel unlucky and unfortunate to experience unreciprocated love.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: E. Y. HARBURG, JEROME KERN, JOHNNY MERCER, LEO ROBIN, OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@xkjane
Estate – You bathe me in the glow of your caresses
You’ve turned my timid no to eager yeses
You sweep away my sorrow with your sigh
Estate
Oh how the golden sunlight bends the willow
Your perfume sends the blossoms to my pillow
Oh who could know you half as well as I
I always feel you near me
In every song the morning breeze composes
In all the tender wonder of the roses
Each time the setting sun shines on the sea
Estate
And when you sleep beneath a snowy cover
I’ll keep you in my heart just like a lover
And wait until you come again to me – Estate
@galenalford35
I came here mainly to read the comments left by others. I have always felt somewhat alone in my personal taste, love and interest in Shirley Horn. So it's nice to see others appreciating her talent, skill and remarkable style. Her music moves me so much. It's 1:00 AM and I'm playing this song and I marvel at every facet of it. To me this is the embodiment of how music should be and make you feel. I wish some of us were in a room together so I could be with like-minded people who truly respect Shirley Horn and her amazing talent. Be well everyone.
@raularmas317
I can understand that feeling of aloneness. I have felt it as well. Hope all is well with you and yours.
@raularmas317
Today(7-24-22) I think what you are talking about is called a listening party?
Been to one lately?
@galenalford35
Never heard of a listening party but now I want to have one or go to one. I’ll have to research listening party. Thank you.
@pjjohnette4317
Like your words. So far away alas seems close. Adieu
@colormegeeky
@@galenalford35You can host your own listening party if you want. You probably already knew this. I hope your doing well. 😁
@markfx12
The magic and majesty of Shirley Horn confirms the existence of God.
@lindaperkins4521
YES!
@joylewis2910
My soul dances listening to the incomparable Shirley Horn.......perfection!
@raularmas317
I second your soul dancing. Thank God for Shirley horn