Nina Simone - Ain't Got No...I've Got Life

Nina Simone — 1933-2003

Nina Simone was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon on February 21st, 1933, in the small town of Tryon, North Carolina. In a poor southern family, Eunice was the sixth of eight children - four boys and four girls. Early on in life, Eunice displayed extraordinary musical talent while playing piano and singing at the local church. At the age of six, a local benefactor and music teacher were so impressed with Eunice's talent that the "Eunice Waymon Fund" was established in order to finance her general and musical education.

By the age of ten Eunice had made so much progress she was invited to give her first piano recital at the town library. It was at this recital where Eunice first experienced the racism her everyday life had sheltered her from. During her performance, Eunice's parents were removed from the first row in order to accommodate white auidence members. This would be a bittersweet concert for Eunice as not only did she receive her first round of applause but, also, the seed for her future commitment to and passion for civil rights was planted.

With the help of the local financial supporters, Eunice enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music in New York and left Tryon in 1950 to continue her musical education. After completing her lessons in New York, Eunice and her family moved to Philadelphia with the hopes of her enrolling in the prestigious Curtis Institute to become classically-trained. Eunice was denied a scholarship to the Curtis Institute after giving a reportedly stellar audition. Though she was told the reason for her denial was based on her musical performance, she was later told it was for another reason. Still somewhat naïve to racial inequalities, Nina was suprised when told by an insider she wasn't denied for any musical reasons but rather, "oh, it's because you're black!"

In order to support herself and pay for further education, Eunice became an accompanist for a singing teacher. Later realizing she could make more money giving lessons herself, Eunice began teaching piano and singing to young adults. Frustrated with the sub-par performance of her students and tired of dealing with the unrealistic expectations of their parents, Eunice looked for work as a performer. In 1954, she accepted a job at the Midtown Bar and Grill on Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City, New Jersey. When Eunice appeared for her first night of work, she was informed by the bar owner she was not only hired to play piano but was also expected to sing. Without realizing what was happening or what lay in store for her future, Eunice reluctantly agreed and stepped into show business. In order to avoid disapproval from her family for performing in a bar, Eunice adopted a stage name. She combined "Nina," a pet name given her by a childhood boyfriend meaning "little one," with "Simone" from the French actress Simone Signoret for "its dignified sound." Eunice Waymon forever became Nina Simone.

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Simone - Nina's daughter