Nina Simone-Sings The Blues (1967)

Nina Simone is another of the great divas of American jazz and blues. She was a fabulous singer, a great songwriter, and an excellent pianist, as well as one of the most active advocates for American civil rights for five decades. Born in 1933 in North Carolina, she was already playing piano and singing in her local church by the young age of 10. A pivotal moment in her life was the day her parents, who had come to see her play piano in church, were forced to move to the back of the pew to make room for other white people. Around the age of twenty, Nina Simone moved to Philadelphia, where she began to earn a living giving piano lessons and singing backup vocals. Shortly after, she launched her career performing at the legendary Midtown Bar on Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City. Thanks to her impressive and soulful voice, Nina quickly rose to prominence, and her first recording, "I Loves You Porgy" by George Gershwin, achieved considerable success on the American charts. From this point on, Nina's career would be meteoric, with songs like "My Baby Just Cares For Me", "To Be Young, Gifted and Black", and "Mississippi Godman" (songs with a clear political message), as well as numerous covers of other artists such as "I Put A Spell On You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins ,"Here Comes The Sun" by The Beatles, and "House Of The Rising Sun" by Dave Van Ronk. Following further success stemming from her participation in several Broadway musicals, her song "For All We Know" would become another of her classics. With a style that blended gospel, blues, and jazz influences, Nina Simone earned the respect and admiration of the American people, earning the title of "High Priestess of the Soul", and becoming a true legend and icon of 20th-century music.