“To most white people, jazz means black and jazz means dirt, and that's not what I play. I play black classical music” (Simone). Nina is one of the greats when it comes to African-American music, a black woman that children of color can look up to in awe knowing that our people had a contribution to real art. Simone was born February 21, 1933, in the small town of Tryon, North Carolina, but later died at her home on April 23, 2003, in Carry-let-Rout, France. Nina Simone attended Julliard School of Arts in New York City where she studied classical piano. However, she eventually left when she ran out of money. She supported herself by playing in nightclubs where her love for music quickly turned to Jazz and Blues music. “She released her first
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“Simone was a singer, piano player, and songwriter who defied genres and controlled her will rather than conforming herself to be confined by boundaries. Her work fluctuated between jazz, blues, soul, classical, R&B, pop, gospel, and world music, with passion, emotion, and a strong understanding of technique as the trademarks of her musical career”(Deming). Becoming one of the pioneer African-American women to create jazz music on this scale, she was a noticeable dent in what people were used to music being. She made contributions just by being who she was from the age of three and simply doing what it is that she loved to do--play music.
Ms. Nina Simone was best known for her unique singing voice that could captivate audiences from beginning to end and playing the piano. Her musical diversity and pioneer statements made her one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. “She was one of the most extraordinary female artists of the twentieth century; an icon of American music” (Nathan). Some of her most famous songs were “I Love You Porgy” and “A Single Woman.” She was simply iconic-- truly, and
“Simone was a singer, piano player, and songwriter who defied genres and controlled her will rather than conforming herself to be confined by boundaries. Her work fluctuated between jazz, blues, soul, classical, R&B, pop, gospel, and world music, with passion, emotion, and a strong understanding of technique as the trademarks of her musical career”(Deming). Becoming one of the pioneer African-American women to create jazz music on this scale, she was a noticeable dent in what people were used to music being. She made contributions just by being who she was from the age of three and simply doing what it is that she loved to do--play music.
Ms. Nina Simone was best known for her unique singing voice that could captivate audiences from beginning to end and playing the piano. Her musical diversity and pioneer statements made her one of the most influential artists of the 20th century. “She was one of the most extraordinary female artists of the twentieth century; an icon of American music” (Nathan). Some of her most famous songs were “I Love You Porgy” and “A Single Woman.” She was simply iconic-- truly, and