Nina Simone

NINE SIMONE d2003. American singer, songwriter, pianist and civil rights activist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B and pop. To make a living, she started playing piano at a nightclub in Atlantic City. She changed her name to "Nina Simone" to disguise herself from family members, having chosen to play "the devil's music" or so-called "cocktail piano". She was told in the nightclub that she would have to sing to her own accompaniment which effectively launched her career as a jazz vocalist. She went on to record more than 40 albums between 1958 and 1974, making her debut with Little Girl Blue. She released her first hit single in the United States in 1958 with "I Loves You, Porgy". Her piano playing was strongly influenced by baroque and classical music (especially Johann Sebastian Bach) and accompanied expressive, jazz-like singing in her contralto voice. She died in France aged 70 on April 21st 2003