Kenya holds a bachelor's degree in journalism from Georgia State University, an associate's degree in music from the Art Institute of Atlanta, and is currently pursing her master's degree.

"Coretta:
1st Lady of Civil Rights”

“Behind every great man
is an equally great woman.”

Kenya King tells the story of the Civil Rights  movement from a different perspective in this musical tribute to Coretta Scott King Kenya has often been told she looks like a  young Coretta, brings  the life of this quiet, gracious wife of Dr. Martin Luther King into focus as she shares the life and times of this tireless civil rights leader before, during and after the death of her famous husband.   The presentation is peppered with the inspiring freedom songs and melodious spirituals characteristic of the 1960s coupled with the and insightful quotes from Mrs. King.

Kenya is open to a Question and Answer period with the audience following her presentation.

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Mp3 Audio excerpt from the “Coretta”

KENYA is shown here with excerpts from a live demo of ‘Lena’s Horn to Hollywood.’

Kenya King's one woman musical tribute to Lena Horne, "Lena Horn to Hollywood " features the life of this consummate entertainer while sharing some of her most famous hits. Featured tunes include as "Stormy Weather", "Night and Day," "It's Alright with Me," "As Long as I Live, " "Someone to Watch Over Me," "It's Love," "Love Me or Leave Me, "etc.

Educational and entertaining, the program uses equal parts of narrative and songs with Kenya relating the facts of Lena Horne's remarkable life while she changes costumes on stage. Ms. King offers an audience Q&A at the end of her presentation.

WHO IS LENA HORNE?

The Cotton Club was a famous Harlem night spot where Black performers played for White audiences. At the Club, she performed with such greats as Cab Calloway, Duke Ellington--both of whom had a significant influenced on her career. Before she ever made a movie, Lena's beauty and talent had her playing to packed houses on Broadway. At 21, she appeared in the Hollywood film, "The Duke is Tops," at 24, she played a nightclub singer in "Panama Hattie" but the film was shot so that her role could be cut out when they were shown in the South--Jim Crow had a tight grip on America and movie executives feared that they would lose revenue if a Black performer appeared in any role but that of a servant, miscreant or other minor occupation--Lena refused those types of roles. Ironically, since Lena often photographed so light in movies, fearful of offending White c, MGM commissioned makeup legend Max Factor to create a makeup line for her called "Dark Egyptian" meant to make her look more "Negro" on the big screen.

In 1943, Lena appeared as Selina Rogers in an all-black musical, "Stormy Weather"--the title of which became not only a big hit, but eventually, her theme song. That same year she played Georgia Brown opposite the famous Ethel Waters in "Cabin in the Sky." Though branded a communist sympathizer because of her support of and association with Paul Robeson, Afterwards, Lena's musical career took off, recording numerous movies and albums through the decades--appearing as Glinda the Good Witch in "The Wiz" in 1978 and television appearances as late as the mid nineties.

Lena was nominated for a 1958 Tony Award as Best Actress (Musical) for "Jamaica," and received a Special Tony Award in 1982 for "Lena Horne: The Lady and Her Music. She was inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1991 and is a member of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority. Lena, now in her nineties, lives in Manhattan.

Lena Calhoun Horne was born on June 30, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. Her parents divorced when she was very young and her mother left her briefly in the care of her grandparents while she pursued a career as an actress. Lena dropped out of school at the age of 14 and got her first job as a singer and dancer at Cotton Club when she was 16.

Click to hear an mp3 from her Lena Horne Tribute

A Live, 5 minute Quicktime video excerpt from “Lena”

You need Quicktime Video Player to see the video on this page.  BE PATIENT! Quicktime Playback is determined by the speed of your internet connection.  You may also see this

video on our YouTube broadcast site:  

TOURING FEES: 

Call 521-0900 for International, Custom and Atlanta area rates.

QUOTE  INCLUDES TRAVEL to many USA cities.  Exceptions apply. 

     "LENA'S HORN TO HOLLYWOOD" $1800 Jan-Feb   /  $1600 March - Dec

     "CORETTA:  FIRST LADY OF CIVIL RIGHTS"...$2500 Jan /   $1800 Feb   /  $1600 Mar - Dec

"IN YOUR AREA"  CO-OP & MULTIPLE SHOW FEES:

     2 shows  in 2 days: $1600 ea    3 in 5: $1450EA   5 in 7: $1250 ea...shared travel.

Kenya King