Nina Simone
American singer-songwriter (1933–2003) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Eunice Kathleen Waymon (February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003), known professionally as Nina Simone (/ˌniːnə sɪˈmoʊn/),[1] was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and pop.
Nina Simone | |
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 Simone in 1965 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Eunice Kathleen Waymon |
| Born | February 21, 1933 Tryon, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | April 21, 2003 (aged 70) Carry-le-Rouet, France |
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| Years active | 1954–2002 |
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| Website | www |
The sixth of eight children born from a poor family in Tryon, North Carolina, Simone initially aspired to be a concert pianist.[2] With the help of a few supporters in her hometown, she enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music in New York City.[3] She then applied for a scholarship to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where, despite a well received audition, she was denied admission,[4] which she attributed to racism. In 2003, just days before her death, the Institute awarded her an honorary degree.[5]
To make a living, Simone started playing piano at a nightclub in Atlantic City. She changed her name to "Nina Simone" to disguise herself from family members, having chosen to play "the devil's music"[4] or so-called "cocktail piano". She was told in the nightclub that she would have to sing to her own accompaniment, which effectively launched her career as a jazz vocalist.[6] She went on to record more than 40 albums between 1958 and 1974, making her debut with Little Girl Blue. She had a hit single in the United States in 1958 with "I Loves You, Porgy".[2] Her musical style fused gospel and pop with classical music, in particular Johann Sebastian Bach,[7] and accompanied expressive, jazz-like singing in her contralto voice.[8][9]