![best nina simone biography best nina simone biography](https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1420554111l/24323034.jpg)
John Waynon and Mary Kate did not hesitate for a moment to enroll her in the prestigious “ Juilliard School of Music” in New York City.īut lack of financial resources prevented her from achieving her dream of becoming the first black pianist to play classical music at Carnegie Hall in the United States. With contributions from friends and neighbors who enjoyed listening to Eunice (Nina Simone), the old woman raised funds so that her parents could send her to study in New York. Her piano teacher, an old white and Jewish woman, admired by the girl’s exceptional talent, wanted to help her start a musical career. Nina Simone had valuable help in her environment That was the way things were in those years, and that was Nina’s character. When Eunice realized what was happening, she refused to continue playing until her parents reoccupied the front chairs. Her proud parents, of course, had sat in the front row, listening to her and seeing her better.Īfter a while, they were “invited” to move to the back rows, so that a white family could occupy their chairs. In 1945, when she was 12 years old, she made her public debut with a piano recital as part of the school parties. Nina was a child prodigy who at 3 years old began to play the piano with great talent.įrom a very young age, she stood out for her exceptional powers when she turned 6, her parents made her follow classical piano studies.Īs for the development of her voice, she started singing at her local church. She had never taken classes outside the home, she had learned everything from each other, watching and listening. At home, all the brothers sang and played an instrument. Later she became minister of the Methodist Church and left aside all music that was not of spiritual and religious songs. In the beginning, she played the piano to accompany her husband on shows. When the family began to be very large, John Waymon began to work first at a dry cleaner and then as a barber.
![best nina simone biography best nina simone biography](https://photos.lensculture.com/large/10c7163c-8790-45d5-b910-bc1c92ba9ffd.jpg)
Her father, John Waymon, made a living in show business: he sang, played the harmonica, and danced. Her parents had a very varied ancestry: Africans who had come as slaves to North America, Indians and Irish. Tryon is a small town in Polk County, North Carolina. She was born in Tryon, a town in North Carolina, United States, on February 21, 1933.Įunice (Nina) was the sixth in a family of eight siblings. Nina Simone is the stage name of Eunice Waymon. She was considered the Great Priestess of Soul. When she was prevented from pursuing classical music because she was black, she turned her enormous talents to jazz, blues, rhythm and soul music. Click here if you want to see this biography in Spanish translation.īiography of Nina Simone an exceptional singer, songwriter, and pianist.