Eunice Waymon
| Nina Simone | |
|---|---|
Simone in 1965
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Eunice Kathleen Waymon |
| Born |
February 21, 1933 Tryon, North Carolina, US |
| Died | April 21, 2003 (aged 70) Carry-le-Rouet, Bouches-du-Rhône, France |
| Genres | |
| Occupation(s) |
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| Years active | 1954–2003 |
| Labels | Bethlehem, Colpix, Philips, RCA Victor, CTI, Legacy Recordings |
| Website | ninasimone |
Nina Simone (/ˈniːnə sᵻˈmoʊn/; born Eunice Kathleen Waymon; February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003) was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger, and activist in the Civil Rights Movement. Simone employed a broad range of musical styles including classical, jazz, blues, folk, R&B, gospel, and pop.
Born in North Carolina, the sixth child of a preacher, Waymon aspired to be a concert pianist. With the help of a few supporters in her hometown of Tryon, North Carolina, she enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music in New York.
Waymon then applied for a scholarship to study at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where she was denied despite a well-received audition. Waymon became fully convinced this rejection had been entirely due to her race, a statement that has been a matter of controversy. Years later, two days before her death, the Curtis Institute of Music bestowed on her an honorary degree.
To make a living, Eunice Waymon changed her name to "Nina Simone". The change related to her need to disguise herself from family members, having chosen to play "the devil's music" or "cocktail piano" at a nightclub in Atlantic City. She was told in the nightclub that she would have to sing to her own accompaniment, and this effectively launched her career as a jazz vocalist.
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