Nina Simone was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in Tryon, North Carolina on February 21, 1933.
Some people were just born with certain gifts and Nina Simone's gift was definitely music. At just twoagain'>God Be with You 'Til We Meet Again," in the key of F.
Simone would spend most of her childhood playing the piano at her local church and eventually went on to perform at recitals where many witnessed her talent. During her first concert recital, at the age of twelve, her parents were asked to surrender their front row seats for a few white people who had arrived later on. Simone refused to continue playing for the crowd until her parents were brought back to the front row. This was a defining moment that perhaps changed Simone's life forever in that she would become a key figure in The Civil Rights Movement.
In fact, some of Simone's most important songs were deeply impacted by racism and the turbulence it brought during the 1960s. With the murder of Mississippi Goddam," her personal response to these and other horrible acts of discrimination. Although most Southern states would boycott the song, its popularity continued to grow and went on to become a key protest song during that time.
We lost our "Nina Simone, to cancer on April 21, 2003. She was 70 years old.
In her lifetime, she was a vocalist, pianist, and ultimately, a Civil Rights activist. Simone spoke out against injustice throughout her entire life and she carried that message of strength and courage in her music.
