Nina Simone Buying Guide

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 two-and-a-half, Simone was already a musical prodigy. She climbed up to the piano bench and tried very hard to play the keys on her family organ. In just a few months, her family was astonished when they heard their barely three year old daughter play "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 Medgar Evers,  a field secretary for the NAACP, and the bombing of the church in Birmingham, Ala. that killed four little girls, Simone wrote "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 "High Priestess of Soul, " 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.

Discography

Nina Simone Sings the Blues  Simone pays homage to legendary blues artists like Bessie Smith on this incredible album. The opening song, "Do I Move You, " grabs your attention almost immediately, while "My Man's Gone Now, " from Gershwin's Porgy & Bess,  will definitely choke you up and draw tears after hearing it.	Little Girl Blue  Simone's first album is filled with classic hits like "My Baby Just Cares for Me, " Duke Ellington 's "Mood Indigo, " and the title track, "Little Girl Blue, " which music heads will immediately notice how the melody sounds quite similar to the popular Christmas carol, "Good King Wenceslas. "	High Priestess of Soul  It was believed that Nina Simone never liked the title "High Priestess of Soul"  because she never liked people to label her into a specific type of genre. And this album showcases her love of many eclectic styles--jazz, rock, folk, soul, etc. Songs like "Brown Eyed Handsome Man"  and "Take Me to the Water"  both showcase her ability to play different musical styles well.	Nina Simone in Concert  Comprising of three live recordings from New York City in 1964, this album marks the beginning of Simone's contribution to The Civil Rights Movement. While songs like "Mississippi Goddam"  and "Old Jim Crow"  are more obvious in both their meaning and tone, "Pirate Jenny"  a cover of the tune from Weill and Brecht's "The Threepenny Opera, " has more of a metaphorical, but still powerful, message about discrimination.	Nina Simone at Carnegie Hall  You'll hear Simone's softer side shine through with songs like "If You Knew"  and "Will I Find My Love Today. " Her quest for true love is a constant theme that appears in many of Simone's songs, which is something that most listeners will easily relate to.

Nina Simone at the Village Gate  The Village Gate,  a nightclub in New York City, was home to many aspiring artists, comedians, writers, and of course musicians like Simone. A classic album filled with wonderful jazz and folk songs, it will definitely become a staple in your growing music collection. "Just in Time"  is a wonderful song about how love brings hope to one's life once it is found.	Nina Simone Sings Ellington  Simone showcases her love of jazz and who better to dedicate an entire album to than the great composer, Duke Ellington.  Songs like "Satin Doll, " "You Better Know It, " and the popular "It Don't Mean A Thing (If It Ain't Got That Swing)"  will make almost anybody an instant fan.	I Put a Spell on You   This album features some of Simone's best known songs. The title track, "I Put a Spell on You, " is a hauntingly beautiful love song. "Feeling Good"  will definitely stand out to many listeners because it has become widely sampled by many of today's artists. But it is Simone's undeniable voice that will forever make this song undeniably her own.	Remixed and Reimagined  This album will be enjoyable to both older and younger fans alike, for many of Simone's most popular songs have been reworked by several of today's hottest DJs. Classics like "Obeah Woman, " "Turn Me On, " and "Funkier than a Mosquito's Tweeter"  now have a new life and sound, which will definitely please many listeners.	Nina: The Essential Nina Simone  A wonderful compilation of songs throughout her career, this album will not only be a welcome addition to any music lover's collection, but it will also show younger fans the woman who influenced artists like Lauryn Hill,  Erykah Badu,  and Alicia Keys --just to name a few.

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External Links

• Wikipedia.org: General overview of the life and music of Nina Simone.