Nina Simone

Biography

Nina Simone was a trailblazing American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist, known for her powerful contralto voice and genre-bending style, which spanned classical, jazz, blues, gospel, R&B, and pop. Born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in North Carolina, she was initially set to become a concert pianist before finding success as a singer-songwriter, earning the title "High Priestess of Soul" for her commanding stage presence.