Shirley Horn, 71, Dies

By I Oct. 22, 2005

Shirley Horn, whose her whisper-soft delivery, clear phrasing and spare, in the-pocket piano playing, made here one of the most enjoyable and distinctive artists in jazz, died Thursday night in her hometown of Washington, D.C., after a long battle with diabetes. She was 71.

Horn’s career read like a Hollywood movie: A young musical genius is discovered by a jazz legend, but postpones major stardom to raise a family, only to emerge in her mature years as a superstar on he own terms.

Born in Washington, D.C., in May 1934, from the age of 4 her early piano training consisted of the European classics and she also digested the pianisms and vocal phrasing of Nat “King” Cole. She was accepted to Juilliard, but lacked the funds to attend and later studied at Howard University.

She led one of her first combos in 1954, and a few years later Miles Davis heard her and brought her to New York’s Village Vanguard to rave reviews. She subsequently released a number of albums on the ABC-Paramount and Mercury labels including Travelin’ Light and Horn With Horns, which was produced by Quincy Jones. Citing the wish to raise her daughter properly, Horn retreated from a heavy music career, opting to play gigs close to home and record primarily for the European-based Steeplechase label.

In 1987, she rejuvenated her career by signing with Verve records and released the live date I Thought About You. Her other standout recordings for the label include: You Won’t Forget Me, an all-star date featuring Wynton and Branford Marsalis and Miles Davis in one of his last sessions; and the Johnny Mandel-orchestrated classic Here’s To Life.

Ron Goldstein, President & CEO of the Verve Music Group, said, “Shirley Horn was a true innovator. She created a unique style of playing and singing that was not only original, but so penetrating and so much her own that few dared try to copy it.”