Singer Lena Horne is widely considered to be a nightclub singer first and foremost, which is hard to believe considering her impressive resume and extensive discography. Throughout a recording career that spanned more than 60 years, Horne accumulated three Grammy Awards and appeared in more than 15 films. She also received a lifetime achievement award and has earned hordes of fans for her many accomplishments.

Horne was born in Brooklyn in 1917 and was raised primary by her grandparents after her parents divorced. She landed her first gig at the age of 16 at the Cotton Club as a backup singer. Horne performed in small venues before getting noticed by a theatrical producer and landing a role in the Broadway production Dance With Your Gods in 1934. She'd make her recording debut two years later, signing with Noble Sisle.

Two years after her recording debut, Horne would make her acting debut in a small 1938 film, The Duke Is Tops. Horne spent much of the late ‘30s playing various nightclubs across the country and singing on collaborative recording efforts. In 1941, she released her solo recording debut, Moanin' Low. Several cuts from the record would serve her for a long time as they became a part of her repertoire for much of her career.

Horne would continue to sing at clubs, record, act and do just about everything you could ask of a single person for the next 60 years. In 1997, she celebrated her 80th birthday by receiving the Ella Award for Vocal Achievement in Vocal Artistry. Horne was not finished though, as just one year later she'd release Being Myself, which climbed into the top 10 on the jazz charts. It was thought to be her last recording effort, but she came out of retirement to record three tracks on Classic Ellington in 2000.