Lena Horne Quintet 1984 Adelphi Theatre London

Legendary singer, actress, Lena Horne has dazzled audiences worldwide starting as a 16 years old chorus line dancer at Harlem's famous Cotton Club, it was there where she met and worked with Duke Ellington, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, Ethel Waters and Ivy Anderson. She later worked with Noble Sissle as a singer and went on to sing with Charlie Barnett, Teddy Wilson, JC Heard, and Sid Catlett. An MGM talent scout found Lena as she eventually signed on at MGM and made the films, "Cabin In The Sky and " Panama Hattie". For 20th Century- Fox in 1943 her role in the classic "Stormy Weather" had her singing the title song of Stormy Weather itself which became her trademark throughout her illustrious  career. As time went on  she became a highly ranked international star playing standing room audiences around the world. She has worked alongside of Tony Bennett, Harry Belafonte, Danny Thomas, Vic Damone, Count Basie, Alan King and more. She's been a guest star in television with Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Perry Como and Flip Wilson. Miss Horne first appeared on Broadway in "Blackbirds of 1939" also in "Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg's "Jamaica". Her dual concert with Tony Bennett was the highlight of the 1974-75 season. Lena Horne has won numerous  awards that include 2 Grammy Awards,  best female Pop Vocalist of 1982 and best Original Cast Album from her show "Lady And Her Music". In 1984 Lena Horne The Lady And Her Music ran in London at the Adelphi Theatre from August 6th - September 29th and the Lena Horne Quintet had consisted with Terrance Burrus on keyboards and piano, Rodney Jones on guitar, Benjamin Franklin Brown on bass, Ron Bridgewater on reeds, Vinnie Johnson on drums along with a wonderful cast of Marva Hicks, Stanley Perryman, Janice Harrison, L. Edmund Wesley, Janet Powell and conductor Linda Twine. 

_______________________________________

             LENA HORNE QUINTET

Terrance Burrus (Keyboards) began playing piano at age five in a gospel church in Brooklyn, New York. He became further accomplished in the fields of jazz, classical, rhythm and blues and started performing at the age of fifteen with such celebrated artists as, Jean Carn, Melba Moore, Lenny White,Tom Browne, Stanley Turrentine, Phyllis Hyman, Michael Urbaniak and now the great Lena Horne. Mr. Burrus has recorded for the Arista label and is currently producing new artists  for other recording labels.

Benjamin Franklin Brown (Bass)

has played with the Broadway musical" "Sophisticated Ladies" and has worked with the Buddy Rich Big Band, Dizzy Gillespie, Sonny Fortune and Al Haig. Mr.Brown attended the University Of Miami and has a degree in Music.

Rodney Jones (Guitar) having played with Dizzy Gillespie and Chico Hamilton and having over 30 of his compositions along with five solo albums had also been awarded a grant by the National Endowment Of the Arts, considers himself blessed to work and learn from the great Lena Horne.

Ron Bridgewater (Reeds) toured the United States, Japan, and Europe with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra from 1972-1975. Since that time he has worked and recorded with some of the greatest names in American music who include, Max Roach, Horace Silver, and McCoy Tyner. Mr. Bridgewater attended the University of Illinois.

On the playbill it notes that Vinnie Johnson was the  drummer, but in fact it was the great Wilby Fletcher here as the drummer on those dates. The Lena Horne Quintet was spectacular.

We assume there was a late clerical era written on the playbill.

Lena Horne and her magnificent crew was an impeccable enlightening marvelous moment to exalt to humanity.

Article by Michael C. Kaufman

Contributions from Adelphi Theatre London and Theatre Playbill 1984.