#9: Lena Horne (June 30, 1917 – May 9, 2010)
Lena Horne joined the chorus line at the famous Cotton Club when she was 16 years old. Later, she signed a major movie contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1942, refusing to play traditional servant roles. Her performance of the title track in the 1943 musical Stormy Weather made Lena Horne a singing sensation. She used her fame to fight segregation by refusing to perform for segregated military audiences during World War II.
