Nina Simone also known as Eunice Kathleen Waymon - View Sheet Music for this Artist
- Born: 21 February 1933
- Died: 21 April 2003
- American
- Occupations: Arranger, Composer, Pianist, Singer, Songwriter
- Genres: Boogie & Blues, Jazz, Popular & Folk, R & B, Soul
- Instruments: Piano, Vocal
- Similar Artists: Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Etta James, Aretha Franklin, Dinah Washington, Carmen McRae, Ray Charles, Shirley Bassey, Amy Winehouse, Blossom Dearie, Bessie Smith, Chet Baker
Our Nina Simone Sheet Music is available below. We have 57 songs for Nina Simone Piano, Vocal and Guitar Sheet Music and other instruments.
This includes 69 Duets.
Genre: Boogie & Blues, Jazz, Musicals & Shows, Soul, Popular & Folk and More
Did You Know?
- On stage aged 8, Nina Simone refused to play piano until her black parents were allowed to return to the front seats of hall
Nina Simone was an amazingly gifted and strong, outspoken woman. As well as her brilliant piano playing and beautiful voice, she stood up against racism throughout her life. She was not only fighting racial prejudice, but also prejudice from within here family. She changed her name so that her family would not find out that she was playing the music of the devil at a night club.
May 1955 she played at the Village Gate was a nexus of the creative explosion that was happening at the time which was a major achievement for her. She had the most unusual musical arrangements. She was reported to be a very difficult person. She arrived late. She had bodyguards with her - although to at least one bouncer at the club, they were there to protect the public from her, rather than the other way round.
She insisted on receiving her performance fee in cash up front. One night, she was told that her money was in an envelope on the piano on stage. So she went on, ignored the applause, opened the envelope and laid out the cash on the piano. Satisfied it was all there she put the money back in the envelope and left the stage, tripping over the piano stool as she went. She returned and carried on as if nothing had happened.
She was born within a few years of another black activist and outstanding performer, Ray Charles who learned sheet music by braille as he was blind. They also died within 3 years of each other. It would have been amazing to see these two powerful and gifted performers on stage together.
Our favourite song is I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free, the lyrics of which are highly charged:
I wish I knew how
It would feel to be free
I wish I could break
All the chains holding me
I wish I could say
All the things that I should say
Say 'em loud, say 'em clear
For the whole round world to hear
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