PERRY COMO & LENA HORNE Sing a Medley 1960

[SpazChat]

It's sad, but this kind of show wouldn't even make it out of the test pilot stage today, cause there is no one grabbing their crotch, shouting expletives, flippin' over themselves, etc.. Lena Horne and Perry Como were before my time, but I am glad I discovered these clips

[MrSluggo666]

Ah nothing like a whiter than white singer and an off white woman !

[trajan75]

@MrSluggo666 When my father came from Sicily in 1920 South Italians weren't considered to be really white. A lot of Italian American singers were thus quite open to performing with black entertainers. Perry Como, Frank Sinatra, and Tony Bennett to name a few.

[vAIERIEHARPER121]

i am 16 and i wish i was alive in this time period every thing was so much better and this type of music is my favorite its like all i listen too an i get made fun of all the time

[chaseyl1]

Both the epitome of style. I don't think for a minute Perry cared if she was black.

[greg12551]

I love this video.

[MrCallipygous]

January 20, 1960

Lena Horne, Corbett Monica, Robert Horton. Ray Charles Singers: "Commuters Blues". Perry: "I’ll String Along With You", "The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea", "Old Devil Moon". Lena Horne: "My Heart's a Hobo". Perry & Lena duet "Polka Dots and Moonbeams", "Don’t Have to Know the Language" and "Bob White". Perry, Lena & Ray Charles Singers: "Cuckoo in the Clock", "Yellow Bird", "Listen to the Mockin’ Bird" and "When the Red Red Robin". The Orchestra: "Lullaby".

[Alandix]

I recall the talk when Harry Belafonte and Julie Andrews did a tv special together, and they were so close and had so much chemistry. I am glad the days when talent was managed by our racism are over, mostly.

[ciscokid1970]

One of the greatest voices of all time.

And a smile brighter than the sun.

I will miss her.

Sing in your sleep Lena

[melovetorun]

@ciscokid1970 And you this is better than Andrea Bocelli,lol.

[bodhitara]

Lena Horne- a real star! R.I.P

[zionah8]

I love that era! Simply classy. Res in peace Ms. Horne.

[theblueangel28]

sublime

[kenh2os]

FAB-U-LOUS!

[floppybollox3]

Pure Class!!! What chemistry between them.

[mustangcharger]

Perry's steppin' back and being self effacing in this one.

[odessa5758]

Timeless, wonderful to know that others still enjoy real talent.

[pal035s]

I vote for the Perry and Ethel Merman version of When the red, red robin goes bob, bob bobbin'along.

[mca1218]

Elegance personified. Echoing both BlondeRabbitt and NYCguys2007, this clip is all the more extraordinary because this form of musical entertainment is gone today. Something got lost in the transition between the 1960's generation and what we currently display on television now. And I love the very end when Como takes Horne's hand for the curtain call- a small, but significant gesture considering this was still in the age of race relations breaking ground on network television. Thank you.

[floppybollox3]

Thank you, mca1218 for your superb and astute comment.

[NYCguys2007]

No, taking the hand of someone of another race - especially white the man was white - didn't have much significance in the 1960's. You're thinking of the FIFTIES. Lena was all over Judy Garland in '63, Sinatra was all over Diahann Carroll a couple of years later...that's a fact.

[snoops71]

@NYCguys2007 I don't know, when Harry Belafonte and Petula Clark appeared on her TV special together, and she touched his hand, the suits had a fit. They threatened to remove that part, but she stood strong, so they left it in, and this was in 1968. However, on Hollywood Palace, Sammy Davis Jr and Peggy Lipton got pretty close that same year, and I don't believe there was a huge backlash, so I guess you didn't always know what would happen.

[NYCguys2007]

@snoops71 it was one lone sponsor who was nervous about the very unsexy touch of Petula Clark and Harry Belafonte in 1968. In the mean time, Diahann Carroll was kissing Frank Sinatra on the LIPS.

[snoops71]

@NYCguys2007 And knowing those two, I'm sure they both enjoyed it. Who was gonna mess w/ Frank anyway? Guy had everybody scared of him.

[NYCguys2007]

@snoops71 LOL. Btw, Petula Clark didn't touch Belafonte's hand, she touched his upper arm. It looked very forced and unnatural to me. I think the sponsor was most nervous about the political and "militant" theme of the song. You gotta see that boring show!

[snoops71]

@NYCguys2007 I've never seen it before, just a clip here and there. So, she touched his arm? You can tell a lot by body language, so that is something I'd like to see. I read the song was political in nature. I also found out just a day or so ago Chrysler was the sponser who got nervous. Thanks for giving me some extra info on it :) I've been hearing about the whole thing for years now.

[NYCguys2007]

@snoops71 Copies of the program are available check Amazon.

[snoops71]

@NYCguys2007 Oh Ok, thanks for letting me know!

[acouengineer]

yes ;

just radiation :-)

[Tom1948]

Two of the greatest singers ever together.

Lena is, well, Lena ! Any man knows what I mean !

[Lockemeister]

Closest I ever saw Perry Como to breaking a sweat! Lena Horne definately very stunning!

[lenbenhear]

Aren't they wonderful. ?

thanks for sharing this special moment from the golden age of the tube.

[PrincessLittleRock]

I couldn't agree more... This video is absolutely priceless! Great performers! They also starred together in the movie "Words and Music" (1949?). Perry wasn't as handsome then...

Thanks for posting!

[ppeak2007]

This is really a treat. Both performers are tops as singers and whata classy act. they sound superb together.How I miss the era of top rate entertainment like this, It just cannot be equaled.Thanks for this gem.

[randyk4]

Perry was the real thing. A genuine gentleman.  Someone that you could relax & have fun with.

[BlondeRabbit]

great to see these 2 class acts together. it's also a little disconcerting to remember that performances like these were on television WEEKLY back in the golden age of variety shows. No more...we're firmly in the video age and the big awards shows performances have to make do...but it's wonderful to have this preserved for us to enjoy today. Thanks!

[damone77]

the set suggests 1965. Thanks so much for posting this gem.

[NYCguys2007]

Well, the hair (wig) and make-up is more like 1960.

[clyde1952]

Happy Birthday, Lena.