Nina Simone (/ˈniːnə sɪˈmoʊn/; born Eunice Kathleen Waymon, February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was an American composer, concert pianist, singer, songwriter and civil rights activist. Her commanding presence and stage persona earned her the title “the High Priestess of Soul.” Her music spanned classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B and pop. Her piano playing was strongly influenced by baroque and classical music — especially Johann Sebastian Bach — and accompanied expressive, jazz‑like singing delivered in her contralto voice. Rolling Stone named Simone one of the greatest singers on several of its lists. The sixth of eight children in a respected North Carolina family, Simone initially aspired to become a concert pianist. With support from a local fund in her hometown, she enrolled at Allen High School for Girls, then spent a summer at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City to prepare for a scholarship audition at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. She was not admitted, a rejection she attributed to racism. She remained musically active until her death in 2003 — just days after Curtis awarded her an honorary degree. Early in her career, Simone played piano in a nightclub in Atlantic City to earn a living. She adopted the stage name “Nina Simone” to hide her work from her family, believing they would disapprove of her playing what she called “the devil’s music” or “cocktail piano.” She was told she would need to sing while accompanying herself, which effectively launched her career as a jazz vocalist. After making her debut with Little Girl Blue in 1958, she recorded more than 40 albums through 1974. She released her first and biggest U.S. hit single in 1959 with “I Loves You, Porgy,” which reached the Top 20 on the Billboard Hot 100.
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Mississippi Goddam
Backlash blues
You’ll Never Walk Alone
Ain’t Got No, I Got Life
My baby just cares for me
Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood
I Put Spell On You
Hey, Buddy Bolden
Here comes the sun
Wild Is The Wind (Live In New York 1964)
Feeling Good
Sinnerman
To Love Somebody (Live in Antibes, 1969)
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