By Jackie Brett, Las Vegas About the Town Examiner

Las Vegas resident Mary Wilson, who was a Supreme and one of the famous trio’s founders, will be performing in a tribute show aptly named, “Stormy Weather: The Lena Horne Project,” in the new Cabaret Jazz Club at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts, May 11 and 12.

The showbased on James Gavin’s book released in 2009 about Hollywood’s first African-American goddess, Lena Horne, goes from her reign at MGM’s “dream factory,” to a fabled night club seductress, and civil rights icon.

While Wilson was performing in “The Fabulous Palm Springs Follies,”she saw a lady carrying a book about Lena Horne and as chance would have it found out the author was at a book signing in town. She went and met James Gavin and told him the story about how she met Horne and stayed friends.

It was in 1967 or ’68 when Horne was closing at the Talk of the Town in London and the Supremes were opening the next night. The ladies had Barry Gordy get them in to see the show and they stayed backstage in Horne’s dressing room for over an hour. “It was one of the best moments in my life meeting someone famous,” Wilson said and added, “We remained friends. Whenever I saw her, she’d run over to me.”

Talking with Gavin, Wilson learned that he wanted to bring the play created from his book to some bigger stages with a jazz singer. Wilson liked the project and got involved. They opened in Los Angeles at the Musicians Institute to work out the kinks and went on to work small venues in Middle America.  Now they are taking it another step up at The Smith Center in Las Vegas.

Wilson describes the show as having the spoken word presented by narrator Gavin, being a concert with her singing the songs, and featuring multi-media with film clips showing Horne’s amazing life. Wilson changes cloths and styles her hair all to create the mood of the ‘30s period but not to imitate. Three musicians add to the realism.

Many will be surprised to learn that this Supreme grew up listening to jazz. “It’s probably my first love.  It’s not a stretch, its closer to me musically,” confesses the Motown queen.

A sample of the songs on the program include: “Stormy Weather” by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler; “Why Was I Born?” by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II; “A Lady Must Live” by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart; “Honeysuckle Rose” by Fats Waller and Andy Razaf, and many more.

Three performances are set for May 11 at 8:30 p.m. and May 12 at 7 and 9:30 p.m. Ticket prices start at $45, call 702-749-2000 or visit www.TheSmithCenter.Com.

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