Nina simone bio biography john
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“The High Priestess of Soul,” Nina Simone was a singer, pianist, songwriter, and civil rights activist. Mostly known as a jazz singer, her music blended gospel, blues, folk, pop, and classical styles. No popular singer was more closely associated with the Civil Rights Movement than Simone.
Nina Simone was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21, , in Tryon, North Carolina. Her mother, Mary Kate Irvin, was a Methodist preacher and housekeeper, and her father, John Divine Waymon, worked as an entertainer, barber, and dry-cleaner. The family’s home was filled with music and Simone’s mother encouraged her musical pursuits but did not approve of nonreligious music like blues and jazz. Simone took up the piano before her feet could reach the pedals, and by the age of six, she was playing during church services.
Simone soon began formal training, her lessons paid for by benefactors who saw her promise as a pianist. She learned classical repertory and specialized in playing the works
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Nina Simone
American singer-songwriter (–)
Musical artist
Nina Simone (NEE-nə sim-OHN;[1] born Eunice Kathleen Waymon; February 21, – April 21, ) was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, composer, arranger, and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and pop. Her piano playing was strongly influenced by baroque and classical music, especially Johann Sebastian Bach,[2][3] and accompanied expressive, jazz-like singing in her contralto voice.[4][5]
The sixth of eight children born into a poor family in North Carolina, Simone initially aspired to be a concert pianist.[6] With the help of a few supporters in her hometown, she enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music in New York City.[7][8] She then applied for a scholarship to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where, despite a well received audition, she wa
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Nina Simone
Nina Simone | |
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Nina Simone in | |
| Birth name | Eunice Kathleen Waymon |
| Born | ()February 21, Tryon, North Carolina, United States |
| Died | April 21, () (aged&#;70) Carry-le-RouetFrance |
| Genres | Black Classical, Jazz, Blues, soul, R&B, folk, gospel |
| Occupation(s) | Classical Pianist[Classical Music Composer-Interpreter]] [[[singer]] and songwriter |
| Instruments | voice, piano |
| Years active | – |
| Labels | RCA Victor, Philips, Bethlehem, Colpix, Legacy Recordings |
| Website | |
Nina Simone (born Eunice Kathleen Waymon; February 21, – April 21, ) was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and civil rightsactivist. Simone did not like people to classify her music, or say what genre it fell into, but people often call her a jazz musician. She was often called "The High Priestess of Soul".
Early life
[change | change source]Nina Simone was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in Tryon, North Carolina in She was one of eight children in a poor fam