Nina Simone

Eunice Kathleen Waymon, known professionally as Nina Simone, was born on February 21, 1933, in Tryon, North Carolina. She was one of eight children in a poor family and learned to play piano at the age of three. Her musical talent was recognized early, leading to a scholarship to study classical piano at the Juilliard School of Music in New York City.

Nina Simone performed publicly for the first time at the Midtown Bar & Grill in Atlantic City in 1954, adopting her stage name to avoid being recognized in what she viewed as a less than noble profession by her mother, who was a devout Methodist minister.

In 1959, Nina Simone's breakthrough came with the release of her rendition of 'I Loves You, Porgy', originally from George Gershwin's opera Porgy and Bess. The single became her only Billboard top 20 success in the United States and helped to establish her standing as a leading jazz vocalist.

Nina Simone released the song 'Mississippi Goddam' in 1964, expressing her outrage at racial injustices and the assassination of activist Medgar Evers as well as the bombing of the 16th Street Baptist Church in Birmingham. The song became an anthem for the civil rights movement, embodying the struggle and passion for justice.

In 1965, Nina Simone performed at the infamous civil rights march from Selma to Montgomery, Alabama. This event was part of the larger Selma Voting Rights Movement and brought national attention to racial injustices in the South, bolstered by Simone's powerful performances and outspoken political activism.

Facing increasing pressure and experiencing exhaustion from her civil rights work, Nina Simone relocated to Barbados in 1970. There, she found relative peace and rejuvenation, though she continued her career by touring and performing internationally. Her move reflected her disillusionment with American politics during that era.

In 1987, Nina Simone experienced a revival in popularity when her 1958 recording of 'My Baby Just Cares for Me' was used in a Chanel No. 5 commercial. This brought her music to a new generation, leading to renewed interest and appreciation of her artistic contributions.

In 1993, Nina Simone moved to the South of France, where she would live out the rest of her life. The French Riviera provided a peaceful retreat where she could focus on personal reflections and occasional performances, though she mostly withdrew from the public eye during her final years.

Nina Simone passed away on April 21, 2003, at her home in Carry-le-Rouet, France. She was 70 years old. Her legacy as a potent voice for civil rights and a trailblazing artist in the genres of jazz, blues, and folk music endures, influencing countless musicians and activists.

The Curtis Institute of Music awarded Nina Simone an honorary diploma in 2008, 50 years after she was denied entry. The institute acknowledged her extraordinary talent, legendary career, and her profound impact on music and civil rights, emphasizing her lasting influence through this posthumous recognition.