In Black America; Jazz Singer Kimmie Horne

From the University of Texas at Austin, KUT Radio, this is In Black America. She kind of summoned for me to come over and chat with her and when I did, one of the things that she shared with me, she said, baby, you know, you really have a unique sound, and I love the way she loved the fact that I was doing a lot of cover tunes, but I truly was making those cover tunes my own. I never was the kind of artist that I'm going to go up here and sing this song exactly like the artist. I was always searching for creativity, we're staying with the melody and all, but searching for the creativity to stretch out, and she really saw that, and she said, you know what, I want you to really start listening to some jazz, baby. I really want you to start listening to some jazz, and as I, as I started listening

to jazz, I just found another love for music. Kimming Horn, international jazz vocalist, model, and actress. But one here is Horn Singh, you know she was born to be a jazz singer. Horn is a product of a rich music heritage. She's a gifted songwriter and arranger. As a descendant of the legendary song, Tristan Actress, Lena Horn, and the niece of the great singer, songwriter, Cleveland Horn of the Fantastic Four, Horn has the perfect pedigree. Just left a mark around the world, taking her audiences on a journey from pop to R&B to jazz. But her singing talent is only the tip of the iceberg. Horn is a representative for a beer company, luxury failures, and a celebrity smokes person and model for a major automotive group. Did I mention she's also an actress. Her most recent role is the featured singer in the musical thriller One Harlem Night. I'm John L. Hanson Jr. and welcome to another edition of In Black America.

On this week's program, international jazz vocalist, Kimming Horn, in Black America. In Black America, I'm John L. Hanson Jr. and I'm John L. Hanson Jr. and I'm John L. Hanson Jr.

In Black America, I'm John L. Hanson Jr. and I'm John L. Hanson Jr. and I'm John L. Hanson Jr. And I would talk about, God, we had these incredible discussions with one another, me and my peers about how I would love to do something together. We would love to get together and do a CD together,

do this together, do that together. And then when you lose a new client, I just want to create a platform to be able to invite my musical friend and share a stage with me so we could share this stage together. And the only way that we're going to do it is that I have to create something to be able to invite people to, you know, pay them to come to the shows, but yet they are coming in and I call it a musical family affair. So I created this festival, the Kenny Horn Jazz Festival in 2016, that started as a one day festival and it started in Lakeford Village. It's a small, quaint, charming little village and we had over, well, probably about 5,000 people for that day through the course of the day with eight of my performing buddies. A new partnership, new music and video release are just some of the accomplishment Kimmy Horn achieved in 2018. Her self titled Kimmy Horn Jazz Festival, which she launched in 2016,

is preparing to expand nationally and internationally. Detroit has always been the launching pad for world-renowned musicians and recording artists. Born and raised in the motor city, she's a graduate of Ref. High School. Singing is in her DNA. She is the great niece of the legendary songtress and actress, Lena Horn, and the niece of the great singer, songwriter Cleveland Horn, other fantastic four. On a way to becoming a journalist at Ferris State University, she became a jazz singer. Her singing career has taken her all over the world and she sings in foreign languages. Besides her impeccable vocal talent, Horn is a spokesperson for a major automotive group, beer company and luxury furriers. Recently, in Black America, spoke with this dynamic artist. Heaven, you know, because I, you know, it really is, because I always, I always look back and it's so nice to be able to, now I do a lot of traveling. So to be able to have the Motown soundtrack,

I mean, to be rooted right here in the city of Detroit, where so much music have come out of, like the Motown, you know, air and the Diana Rosses and Martha Rees and the Temptations, and it really is an honor. And, you know, it was always around, that music, that soundtracks was always around. What part of the city did you grow up in? Up west side Detroit. And what were some of your favorite things you were doing while you were growing up in high school and junior high? You know what, growing up in high school, I really got into the marching band. I love live music, the live instrument. I was a major at, then I was the youngest major at Captain, growing up. I did participate in different musicals, like I was the Dorothy and the Wizard of Oz, but my real passion was really being a major at, you know, being with the major at squad and the ladies and us going to camps

and participating and learning routines and just structure with a lot of team spirit. I really loved that. I really grew up with that kind of background. And what high school did you graduate from? From Rapid High School, the home of the Huskies. You mentioned some of the singers that was born and raised in Detroit. I was trying to do some research. What is it about Detroit and singers? You know, I think for me, I think for me, and proud, a lot of us, because we do really get together and talk a lot. I have a lot of female and male singing friends. And I think that we all would agree that with the Motown era, they really showed us how to, number one, act on stage, how to be on stage, to be professional, you know, for it always to show up and look apart. You know, the Motown era really helped pave the way for a lot of us singers. You know, I still really abide by those rules.

I say, rules, they're unspoken rules, but the way you dress and how you present yourself and the whole supreme thing of having dresses and outfits and then gloves and matching up and just being polished. You know, I think that that's the biggest thing. And of course, in terms of your artistry, your gift come with it, come and give it your all. Why don't you select jazz over R&B music? Oh, did you? I started. I did, I did. I really loved like the Michael Jackson. I think like any other, you know, young adult, we love Michael Jackson and I love dancing around. I have so much energy. So, you know, part of the Michael Jackson era and then when Janet Jackson and seeing her do her performances and everything, I think R&B was always a big deal. I mean, like even with the Motown, even though it was kind of rooted from jazz, you didn't know that at an earlier age.

You wouldn't equate Motown with jazz as an earlier performer. I didn't, you know, because you just saw that as, God, that's just good music. That just sounds good. But as I started to really perform around the city and do a lot of different shows, I never forget the day that I met Betty Carter. Betty Carter came in and she's like a jazz legend. And she came into the establishment that I was performing at and I was singing lead with a jazz group and it was David Miles and Miles Stone. And when I started, after I went on break, she kind of summoned for me to come over and chat with her and when I did, one of the things that she showed me, she said, baby, you know, you really have a unique sound. And I love the way she loved the fact that I was doing a lot of cover tunes, but I truly was making those cover tunes my own. I never was the kind of artist that I'm going to go up here and sing this song exactly like the artist.

I was always searching for creativity. We're staying with the melody and all, but searching for the creativity to stretch out and she really saw that and she said, you know what, I want you to really start listening to some jazz, baby. I really want you to start listening to some jazz. And as I started listening to jazz, I just found in whole another love for music, you know, the melodies and the, you know, and the quarter structure. I mean, I just, I just fell in love. I just fell in love with it. Any form of music training or all this is just God-given? God-given, God-given. Now, my dad was a musician. My dad was a drummer. My brother is a singer. And, you know, I am the great niece of Lena Horne. Now, as I have, as I had never had the great opportunity to meet Lena Horne because of our age differences, I've always heard different stories for my family about her at the family reunions. And my dad created in our home. He created a recording studio,

because he was a carpenter as well. So we always had music around the house, like Esther Mitzwell always set up. I don't know if you remember the real to real. Mm-hmm. You remember the real to real? Right, right, right. So we had a real to real set up in our home and everything. And because this is what we lived around. This is what I grew up around all the time. He used to have different gospel groups come in and have rehearsals. They used to have harmony rehearsals and just, you know, the chorus parts. And, you know, it was just always around the house. So, you know, because of that, you know, it's kind of like as I was growing up, I took it for granted, because I just felt like everybody grew up with this around the house. So, yeah, as I continued to grow, when it was time for me to go to school, that's the last thing that I wanted to do, music. MUSIC MUSIC MUSIC

MUSIC Baby, I can't let you love you as long as I want to. Life isn't long, love, baby. I can love you as long as I live. Baby, I can't buy you diamonds and things like I want to. But I can promise you, baby. I'm going to love you as long as I live. Well, I never care, but now I'm scared that I won't live long enough. That's why I live with my brothers when it rains. And even after every day you see the doctor right away, and what if I can live to love you as long as I want to? Life isn't long, love, baby. I can love you. MUSIC I'm talking about life isn't long, love, baby. I felt like, oh, that's what we do at home. I want to go to school and be an anchor, an anchor woman.

That's what I wanted to do. I wanted to be on television and be an anchor person, because I love Diana Lewis, who was a great, great woman on the air. And that was my inspiration, you know. I said, I want to do that. That's what I wanted to do. And so I want the school to be a journalist, to be an anchor woman. So yeah, so that's how it kind of started for me. But the music was always around the house. And I met so many different musicians as a kid that is really a trip when I'm running to these musicians now. And they're like, oh, I remember when you were a baby. And it's like, oh, my gosh, that's amazing. Hey, we just joining us. I'm Johnny, I'm Hanson, Jr. And you're listening to End Black America from KUG Radio. And we're speaking with Kimmy Horn, International Jazz Vocalist, Model, and Actors. Speaking of Actors and Model, tell us about some of the work you're doing in and around the motor city.

Now, one of the things that I'm doing with the modeling aspect is I am the, I'm the spokesperson for Lincoln, for varsity Lincoln. So I do a lot of the jingles. I've gone out of town and done commercial, you know, and different shoot for with the car. I've done modeling shoots and still continue to do with Lincoln. I was the butt girl, Bud Weiser, the King of Beers. I had all of the Bud Weiser clothing, as a matter of fact, my band was one of the first bands around the city that was sponsored by Bud Weiser. So of course, the musicians, they were happy because they got jackets, they got Bud Weiser jackets, they got, you know, so that was part of my modeling career. And still today, I still do fashion, you know, and runway, you know, on certain shows and I'll go in and I want to Jamaica and I represent the United States as Legends of Jazz Vocalist and I went there

and as some, once I got there, they had fashion shows and, you know, I participated in them as well and it was really unique because not only was I walking down the aisle, modeling clothes, but I had a microphone and I was singing jazz. So, you know, it was just, it was, it's a wonderful experience. And then as far as the acting, a couple years ago, I really debuted as my first, really my first acting role, slash singing role and one Harlem night and it was at the Fisher Building, which is a legendary musical theater here in the city and it was sold out, it was well attended for the whole week and that whole experience was, it was wonderful. And so now, you know, I'm getting calls and to, you know, do more acting, you know, auditions and whatnot and so yeah, I'm loving it. I'm just really exploring every aspect of now, the musical industry and acting industry

and modeling industry through my love for and creativity for just working. Understand a jazz festival bears your name? Yes. Now, that's one of my, that's one of my pride and joy. I agree. So, I debuted the Kimmy Horn Jazz Festival in 2016 and the reason why, because people say, what, what made you think that you can start a jazz festival in your own name? That's not, you know, and one of the things that the biggest reason why I wanted to start the festival is because again, I have been traveling for so much. I perform overseas and I've now, it's 21 years now that I've been going overseas and I, I mean, I sing in Japanese, I speak a little Japanese and so I found that as I'm traveling all around the world and I run into different musicians, different musical peers of mine

and different parts of the world, you know, as you get older, you start to, you know, see how you lose a lot of your peers. I mean, they pass on and, and I always talk about, God, we have these incredible discussions with one another, me and my peers about how I would love to do something together, we would love to get together and do a CD together, do this together, do that together. And then when you lose and it's like, God, I just, I want to create a platform to be able to invite my musical friends and share a stage with me so we could share this stage together and the only way that we're going to do it is that I have to create something to be able to invite people to, you know, pay them to come to the shows but yet they are coming in and I call it a musical family affair. So I created this festival, the Kenny Horn Jazz Festival in 2016 that started as a one day festival and it started in Lakeford Village, it's a small quaint, charming little village and we had over,

well, probably about 5,000 people for that day through the course of the day with eight of my performing buddies and it went very well, we decided to give part of the proceeds to Ronald McDonald House, which is a, you know, for the Detroit chapter, which helped young kids at the hospital, you know, or their families be able to stay near their sick children and we've been able to give back to the community and now I just moved my jazz festival this year to a bigger city, Southfield city and it's now expanded to a two day festival and I tell you it was so, I was so, so proud to be able to, we got the numbers in and we hosted over 10,000 people for this festival for the whole weekend and again, over the years, I've been able to contribute and make a donation to Ronald McDonald House for over 10,000 dollars and you know, it's just, it's growing, you know,

it's really wonderful to see so many of my peers even if they're not performing the jazz world, they're coming out, they're bringing their parent, you know, it is just really turning to something bigger than, bigger than I and I'm so proud to say for next year for 2019, I will be hosting my first international jazz artist. So it's growing and it's really, it's really my baby and it's just, I'm so proud, I'm so proud to be able to do this and the other thing that we do in the festival is we make sure in honor, we do a lifetime achievement award to a chosen jazz artist and a legendary jazz artist that has been performing around for years and years and they may not be able to perform as much anymore but we want to make sure and recognize those artists because it is because of them and their shoulders that we stand upon

to continue to do this, to continue to do this music. So, you know, Ursula Walker was my legendary jazz artist and the first female vocalist for us to honor this year and again, it was, I was so proud to be able to do that and her text to me was Kimmy. I'm just so happy that we chose her because she said that this is one of the best festivals and the best that she's been treated at a festival because we make sure we roll out the red carpet for our legendary artists. We're really for all of the performing artists because it's about us and if we have a good time on stage and if we're treated like royalty, then the audience only get that much more. I understand that you were part of the musical tribute for Aretha Franklin. Yeah, yeah. Tell us about that experience. Yeah, that was a huge experience because Aretha Franklin, she hand-picked every artist that was, that participated in that.

When she was living, we did the tribute to her at the musical and at that time she was getting the name Aretha Franklin Boulevard named in the city of Detroit. And so we were all a part of that but she, she called each and every one of us and she picked the songs that she wanted us to sing and the song that she chose for me was Rock City and I just had the giggle when she told me because you know, that song has so much energy in it and so again, it just shows you how in tune Aretha Franklin was too with some of the singers that were around the city and she really did give back in so many different ways but that tribute meant a lot. All of us came together, all the singers we all came together and we had the presentation down at the musical another legendary spot here in the city of Detroit and we all did our presentations and at the, what was it? Oh, but like the sound check.

I think it was a great day before the event actually happened. She was there and she came in while we were rehearsing and we had a chance to sing, change, no respect, be saying respect to her as she sat there and listened to us and you know, it was extremely special and when she came there that particular day she had on all yellow and she looked amazing and so what we decided to do is that we did the tribute, the tribute was wonderful and then we got caught back to do the tribute to her when she passed, you know, a couple years later and when we did, when we did that tribute we all came together and we all wore yellow on that day and folks were asking, why are you guys wearing yellow? What is it with the yellow? And that's the reason why is because when she saw us do our tribute to her, she had on all yellow so we just wanted to pay tribute to her and our own special way because we were all bonded. A singer still are bonded because of those rehearsals

because of us coming together and being chosen to sing her song. I understand. With the passing of Nancy Wilson last night at the time of this interview, what was Nancy to you as far as the singer and the legend? Oh, Nancy Wilson to me. She's one of those artists like Lena Horn. She conveyed class style, her own unique ability to tell her story through those lyrics. Nobody can touch that. And again, what I love about and I have to put their names together, Nancy Wilson and Lena Horn because both of those women stay true to their style and their grace. You know, they really stay true to it. The industry did not change who they were. You know, it wasn't like, okay, well, we need to change up our style to be able

to sell more songs or sell more CD or sell more records. They always stay true to who they were. And that's what Nancy Wilson represents to me. Grace, timeless, grace. Any final comments, Miss Horn? You know, the final comments is that, you know, I'm just so proud to be able to continue to sing and perform. And I will definitely continue to do that with as much style and grace and I can possibly have. You know, I have CDs that I'm working on and I really look forward to coming to Texas. You know, and performing in 2019. There are songs. I have a CD now that I'm working on and I anticipate being done within the next week or so. And the title of the CD is called Care Free. And I am going to be carefree in terms of just, you know, doing what I do and doing what I do and being honest and true

to the music, to the jazz. I understand. Well, Kimmy, thank you for taking time out of your afternoon. I loved it. I loved it. And I really appreciate, you know, interviewing with you. You have really been a cool host to you. For you continuing to, you know, expand the legacy of showing so much art, music, and so many other things. You know, with your radio station. Oh, I appreciate it. I always hope that you remember. We'll never really learn the meaning of it all. What we have a strong intender, so old I. In the middle of the madness.

When the time is running out, then you lift low. All I want is you to know that is strong still. Can't fool us apart, nothing can come between us. Can't pull us apart, can come between us. It's about faith, it's about trust. It's about faith, it's about trust. Kimmy Horn, International Jazz Vocalist, Modern, and Actress. If you have questions, comments, or suggestions that's your future in Black American programs, email us at in Black America at kut.org.

Also, let us know what radio station you heard us over. Remember to like us on Facebook and to follow us on Twitter. The views and opinions expressed on this program are not necessarily those of this station or of the University of Texas at Austin. You can hear previous programs online at kut.org. Until we have the opportunity again for technical producer David Alvarez, I'm John L. Hanson Jr. Thank you for joining us today. Please join us again next week. CD copies of this program are available and may be purchased by writing in Black America CDs. KUT Radio, 300 West Dean Keaton Boulevard, Austin, Texas, 78712. This has been a production of KUT Radio.