level at the harlem ywca, lena had the calhoun luck. charlie barnett, one of the most popular of the big bands whose hit 1940 records cherokee was looking for a black singer. lena made well-received recordings with both barnett and artie shaw. barr nyet, shaw and benny goodman were the only big band leaders who hired black singers or musicians. but lena was tired of bands and hated touring. she wanted to be in new york with her children. she now got another career break, singing at cafÉ society in greenwich village. cafÉ society was unique in its day. besides presenting extraordinary young talents like billy holday, it was the only integrated night club outside of harlem with black patrons as well as black performers. lena was an enormous hit. unbeknown to most of the performers and patrons, however, cafÉ society was a fundraising outlet for the then-legal communist party usa as the american communist party was known. if she had known, lena doubtless would not have carried. she did not know a communist from a republican. [laughter] but i

living at the harlem ywc ha she had the calhoun -- big band in the 1930s and and 1940s were like 1960s rock groups in popularity and lena made recording with barnett and artie shaw, barnett, shaw, and benny goodman were the only ones who hired black musicians. lena was tired of bands and it hassed touring. she wanted to be in new york with her children. she now got another career break, singing at cafe society in greenwich village. cafe society was unique in its day. beside presenting extraordinary young talent like billy holiday and zero moss still it was the only integrateed nightclub outside of harlem with black patrons as well as black performers elm lena was a hit. unbeknownst to most patrons cafe society was a fundraising outlet for the then legal communist party of the us -- u.s.a. if she had known lena doubtless would not have cared. she did not know a communist from a republican. but in the 1950s, every performer would be blacklifted. now, however, she was able to bring me and little teddy to new york, where we all entered her childhood brooklyn home. little teddy's visit was short-lived, however. lewis' cruel