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Who Was Nina Simone?
Nina Simone, an iconic figure in music and civil rights, began her journey by studying classical piano at the Juilliard School in New York City. However, financial constraints led her to leave the institution prematurely. Transitioning to nightclub performances, she explored jazz, blues, and folk music, ultimately releasing her debut album in 1957. This album featured the hit track “I Loves You Porgy,” which achieved a Top 20 ranking.
Throughout the 1960s, Simone expanded her musical repertoire while establishing herself as a prominent voice in the civil rights movement, using her platform to advocate for social justice. Her career faced challenges during her later years, including struggles with mental health and financial difficulties, leading her to live abroad for a significant period. Despite these obstacles, she experienced a career resurgence in the 1980s. Nina Simone passed away in France on April 21, 2003, leaving behind a profound legacy as both a musician and activist.
Background and Early Life
Nina Simone, born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21, 1933, in Tryon, North Carolina, exhibited an extraordinary affinity for music from a very young age. She began learning to play the piano at just three years old and participated in her church choir. Over the years, her musical training primarily focused on classical repertoire, influenced by composers such as Beethoven and Brahms. Simone often expressed a yearning to be acknowledged as the first prominent African American concert pianist. With the support of her music teacher, a special fund was established to finance her education. After completing high school, this fund facilitated her enrollment at the esteemed Juilliard School of Music in New York City.
While at Juilliard, Simone taught piano and served as an accompanist for various performers. However, her studies were cut short when she faced financial difficulties. She subsequently relocated to Philadelphia, where she lived with her family to save money and pursue a more affordable music program. Her path took an unexpected turn when she was denied admission to the Curtis Institute of Music, an experience she later attributed to her race. Disenchanted with classical music, she began performing American standards, jazz, and blues in Atlantic City clubs during the 1950s. Encouraged by a bar owner, she started to sing along with her music, adopting the stage name Nina Simone. The name “Nina” derived from the Spanish word “niña,” a term of endearment from her then-boyfriend, while “Simone” was inspired by the French actress Simone Signoret. This transformation marked the beginning of her ascent in the music world, earning admiration from notable figures such as writers Langston Hughes, Lorraine Hansberry, and James Baldwin.
Innovative Fusion of Styles
Simone’s recording career commenced in the late 1950s under the Bethlehem label, with her first full album released in 1957, which included the poignant tracks “Plain Gold Ring” and “Little Girl Blue.” The album also featured her only Top 20 pop hit, her rendition of “I Loves You Porgy,” from the Gershwin musical Porgy and Bess.
Throughout the late 1950s to early 1970s, Simone released an impressive array of albums under various labels, including The Amazing Nina Simone (1959), Nina Simone Sings Ellington! (1962), Wild Is the Wind (1966), and Silk and Soul (1967). She reinterpreted popular songs, infusing them with her distinctive style, as seen in her covers of Bob Dylan’s “The Times They Are A-Changin’” and the Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun.” Furthermore, she showcased her sensuality in tracks like “Take Care of Business” from the 1965 album I Put a Spell on You and “I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl” from Nina Simone Sings the Blues (1967).
Simone’s music transcended conventional genre classifications. Her classical training permeated her performances across various styles, drawing inspiration from gospel, pop, and folk. While often referred to as the “High Priestess of Soul,” a title she resented, she similarly rejected the label of “jazz singer.” In her autobiography, she stated, “If I had to be called something, it should have been a folk singer because there was more folk and blues than jazz in my playing.” Through her unique artistry, Simone carved a distinctive niche in the music landscape, one that defied categorization and celebrated her diverse influences.
Prominent Civil Rights Singer: “Mississippi Goddam” and “Four Women”
By the mid-1960s, Nina Simone emerged as a powerful voice of the Civil Rights Movement. Her song “Mississippi Goddam” was a poignant response to the 1963 assassination of civil rights leader Medgar Evers and the tragic Birmingham church bombing that claimed the lives of four young African American girls. In addition to this powerful anthem, Simone also composed “Four Women,” which explores the multifaceted narratives of four distinct African American female characters. Her song “Young, Gifted and Black,” inspired by Lorraine Hansberry’s play, became an anthem celebrating Black identity and resilience. Following the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968, Simone’s bassist, Greg Taylor, wrote “Why (The King of Love Is Dead),” a piece she performed with her band at the Westbury Music Festival. Throughout the 1960s, Simone achieved notable success in England with hits such as “I Put a Spell on You,” “Ain’t Got No—I’ve Got Life/Do What You Gotta Do,” and “To Love Somebody,” which was originally performed by the Bee Gees and penned by Barry and Robin Gibb.
Struggles and Career Renaissance
As the 1960s came to a close, Simone became increasingly disillusioned with the American music scene and the nation’s polarized racial politics. After living as neighbors to Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz in Mount Vernon, New York, she sought solace abroad, residing in various countries including Liberia, Switzerland, England, and Barbados before eventually settling in the South of France. During this period, she faced significant challenges, including severe mental health issues, financial struggles, and conflicts with managers, record labels, and the Internal Revenue Service.
After a hiatus from recording in the mid-1970s, Simone made a comeback in 1978 with the album Baltimore, featuring a cover of Randy Newman’s title track. Although the album received favorable reviews, it did not achieve commercial success. The 1980s brought a career renaissance for Simone when her classic song “My Baby Just Cares For Me” was featured in a Chanel No. 5 perfume commercial in the UK, propelling it to the Top 10 in Britain in 1985. In 1991, she published her autobiography, I Put a Spell on You, followed by the album A Single Woman in 1993.
Despite the challenges she faced, Simone maintained a loyal fan base and continued to tour periodically, filling concert halls with her powerful performances. In 1998, she returned to the New York tri-state area for the first time in five years, performing at the New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark. Music critic Jon Pareles of The New York Times praised her concert, highlighting the enduring strength of her voice and the resonant impact of her repertoire. That same year, she celebrated the 80th birthday of South African leader Nelson Mandela.
Death and Legacy
Nina Simone’s final performance occurred in 1999 at the Guinness Blues Festival in Dublin, Ireland, where she was joined on stage by her daughter, Lisa Simone Kelly. Following in her mother’s footsteps, Lisa has enjoyed a successful career in music and theater, including a role on Broadway in Aida.
In her later years, Simone battled breast cancer, ultimately passing away at the age of 70 on April 21, 2003, at her home in Carry-le-Rouet, France. Although she is no longer with us, Simone’s profound influence on music, art, and activism remains palpable. She used her voice to convey her truth, and her legacy continues to inspire a diverse array of artists, including Aretha Franklin, Laura Nyro, Joni Mitchell, Lauryn Hill, and Meshell Ndegeocello. Her rich, distinctive voice is frequently featured in film and television soundtracks, ensuring her presence endures.
In 2015, two documentaries about Simone were released: The Amazing Nina Simone, directed by Jeff L. Lieberman, and What Happened, Miss Simone?, produced by Netflix and directed by Liz Garbus. The latter film features insights from her daughter, Lisa, and her ex-husband, Andrew Stroud, and presents a candid exploration of Simone’s life, including the abuse she endured from Stroud and the subsequent impact on her relationship with her daughter. What Happened, Miss Simone? received an Oscar nomination for Best Documentary. In a controversial casting decision, actress Zoe Saldana portrayed Simone in the 2016 biopic Nina.
In 2016, as Simone’s childhood home in Tryon, North Carolina, was put on the market, four African American artists collaborated to purchase the property, concerned about its potential demolition. Two years later, the National Trust for Historic Preservation designated the house as a “national treasure,” protecting it from destruction and signaling intentions to restore it for future generations of artists.