Nina Simone was born in 1933 to a poor family in North Carolina. She demonstrated an early talent for piano, performing at her church from a young age. At 15, she refused to perform until her parents were moved from the back of the venue to the front row. As an adult, she studied piano but was rejected from the Curtis Institute of Music due to her race. She had some early successes including recording "I Loved You Porgy," but later lost over $1 million in royalties from one of her hit songs. Nina Simone drew from her experiences with racism and the civil rights movement to influence her music. She passed away in 2003 at the age of 70.

1. Nina Simone
Izzy Sommers

2. Early years
Nina was born the 6th of 8 children to a poor family.
But staying positive Nina learned to play the piano and 3. She
learned "God Be With You" and "Till We Meet Again" at 3 as well.
Demonstrating talent with piano she performed at church, but
her concert debut in classical recite was given to her when she was
12.
At 15 Simone was performing when her parents had been able
to sit in the front row but had to move to the back for some white
man and Nina refused to play until her parents where put back in to
the front row.

3. Adult hood
After finishing High School she studied for a interview with the help of
a private tutor to help her study further and the Curtis Institute of
Performing Arts but was rejected for being black.
When she grew up she married Don Ross and had a daughter but
quickly regretted the marriage.
She played in small clubs in the same year as she recorded I loves you
porgy. It became her top hit and her only song to the billboard and the top
20 in the United States.
Simone later lost more than $1 million in royalties. Notably for the
1980s release " My Baby Just Cares For Me". She never benefited financially
from the albums sales because she had sold her outright for $3,000.

4. Family
Nina was born to John Divire Waymon and Mary Kate Waymon.
When Nina was 6 she became the pianist for church but it was
apparent even many her musically talented family had a special gif.
Everything that happened to her as a child involves around
music. Everybody played music in her family.
Her mother got her lessons by cleaning the house in which the
pianist live in.
She said " we learned to play the same way we learned to walk, it
was that natural."

5. Influences
her influences where Nat King Cole who helped
her record her first album.
Her mom helped her through everything and
Nina thought she was perfect.
Count Basie who helped her in her musical career
with all the hate like " you can't song your black "
Woody Herman who she just loved and Oscar
Brown Jr.

6. Accomplishments, struggles, and FUN FACTS
Nina began her music career singing as a accompanist
to earn extra money for her family that made helped her
win the 12 awards she was given.
As the Civil Rights struggle developed in the United
States so did her music she wrote albums like Brown Baby
and I'm Black.
Nina had diabetes and had had a lot of hate she also
had a few thoughts of suicide it was so bad.
She was positive thought and always had a smile to the
press.
Nina died in her sleep cause of natural causes.
She was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon, Nina Simone
was just a stage name.
Nina was 2/21/1933-4/21/2003
She is a real inspiration and has a big heart.
One more thing Nina Simone met Martin Luther
King Jr. and she also helped stop segregation.

7. Thanks for watching
Have a good day