Blog Post #2
Born in 1933, Nina Simone was a talented musician and activist throughout her life. Simone began playing at the age of three and was trained classically and it continued to show through in all her music. After dropping out of school, Simone turned away from her classical roots and began playing jazz in clubs in the 1950’s. While preforming at the club, Simone did not sing until the bar owner forced her to begin singing along with her piano playing. She also released her first album in 1957 and topped the charts at number one. Her music blended elements of jazz, folk, classical and blues, she was known for her innovative style and no one genre of music could be used to describe Simone’s music.
In the 1960’s Nina Simone became actively involved in the Civil Rights Movement. African Americans were using the movement to stand up for the rights that they knew they deserved. Nina Simone was a very talented musician in the times of the Civil Rights and she participated in marches and peaceful protests showing her support for her fellow African Americans. She wrote songs that shocked the public with vulgar language and blatant distaste for the tragedies in the United States.
Nina Simone had a profound influence on the culture in America. Her music was unapologetically honest about how African Americans were treated in the United States. Her music quickly became the voice of the Civil Rights Movement. Due to her controversial topics and the choice words that she used, radio stations refused to play her music and venues were hesitant to book her. Simone’s music changed lives and provided a voice for those who didn’t have one. Her outspokenness and honest voice made her an important and prominent figure in Civil Rights.
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