Friday, May 22, 2009

James Gavin's Blog / New Lena Horne Biography

Lena Horne photographed by Carl Van Vechten, 1941Image via Wikipedia

I know James Gavin through our mutual friend Will Friedwald. James wrote a definitive, damning book on Chet Baker, which just shows that no matter how crazy you are, if you're talented, you get cut a LOT of slack. And Baker sure was talented. His rushed "hack" work made other horn players green with envy, because it was often really, really good. Talent is undemocratic.

I spent some time chatting with James at one of Anita O'Day's last recording sessions and even took some photos of him (and Anita).

In any case, he has a new biography on Lena Horne, with perhaps an unimaginative title "Stormy Weather", that I'm sure will be great. It will be published at the end of July. He also has a blog, though it's new.
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4 comments:

  1. AnonymousMay 26, 2009 at 1:22 PM

    Finally, a biography of Lena Horne! She is a lucky woman to have her life story told by such an insightful, tender, and honest author. Gavin's last book on Chet Baker got you so under the skin of Baker that it was creepy, but I loved every minute of the ride.

    Perhaps Gavin should continue his fascination with horns by doing a bio or either Neil Simon or Sammy Cahn -- Broadway aficianados can connect the dots.

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  2. Jonathan D. CohenMay 28, 2009 at 4:20 AM

    I'll support James in anything; he's a talented writer.

    But let's be honest: Lena Horne isn't lucky; she's an iconic, important talent who deserves to have a good bio.

    Interestingly, her family didn't participate, which is ridiculous.

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  3. AnonymousJune 4, 2009 at 12:02 PM

    Her FAMILY? Why not HER? She's alive and not a veg, you know. There is sooo much about Lena Horne that's unknown by most people because they insist on making her into a saint.

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  4. Jonathan D. CohenJune 4, 2009 at 3:04 PM

    My understanding is she doesn't leave her home. Could be wrong.

    I met her granddaughter a few years back who said that her grandma had become a bit ornery...i.e., grouchy.

    Who knows? Maybe she is running around the streets of New York.

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