Happy Birthday to Nina Simone! Share
Nina Simone was born on February 21, 1933 in Tyron, North Carolina. She was known for using her musical platform to speak out. “I think women play a major part in opening the doors for better understanding around the world,” the “Strange Fruit” songstress once said.
The American singer created urgent emotional intensity by singing songs of love, protest, and Black empowerment in a dramatic style, with a rough-edged voice.
13 Fascinating Facts About Nina Simone
1. Nina Simone was her stage name
The singer was born as Eunice Waymon but by age 21, the North Carolina native was going by a different name at her nightly Atlantic City gig: Nina Simone. She hoped that adopting a different name would keep her mother from finding out about her performances. “Nina” was her boyfriend’s nickname for her at the time. “Simone” was inspired by Simone Signoret, an actress that the singer admired.