Nina Simone biography at QuotationFun

A Short Biography of Nina Simone

Author Name:

Nina Simone

Born As:

Eunice Kathleen Waymon

Other Names:

The High Priestess of Soul

Born:

21 Feb 1933

Died:

21 Apr 2003




author picture
Singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and civil rights activist                          
Selected Works:
Simone recorded over 40 live and studio albums the greatest body of her work being released between 1958 when she made her debut with Little Girl Blue and 1974.

My Baby Just Cares for Me 
I Put a Spell on You 
Four Women 
I Loves You Porgy 
Feeling Good 
Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood 
Sinnerman 
To Be Young 
Gifted and Black 
Mississippi Goddamn 
Ain't Got No/I Got Life
I Want a Little Sugar in My Bowl.                          
Mother Mary Kate Waymon
Father John Divine Waymon - seven siblings
Husband Andrew Stroud                          
Her concert debut, a classical piano recital, was made at the age of ten. During her performance, her parents, who had taken seats in the front row, were forced to move to the back of the hall to make way for white people. Simone refused to play until her parents were moved back. This incident contributed to her later involvement in the civil rights movement.                          
When applying for a scholarship at a local college, Nina completed a paper testing her skills and passed admirably, and there were people around who could clearly see the talent she possessed. Yet she failed to get a scholarship. When Simone confronted the examiner and asked why she was not accepted for a scholarship, the examiner told her "because you're black.