Birthday Tribute to the Late Great Nina Simone ~ Feb 21, 1933 to Apr 21, 2003

There are moments in your life that you feel truly blessed to have had the opportunity to experience. Nina Simone was one of them. When we lived in the Philly area, I quickly jumped on the opportunity to see her perform. It was my hubby, one of his college roommates/lifetime friend, and myself.

(from http://www.ninasimone.com/photos.html) What a treat, I tell you. I have a deep love for all things musical, particular the messages in songs, and without even knowing a lot of her music, I knew Nina was a legend.

The concert we attended was circa 2000. She was definitely not in her prime anymore but her voice was beautiful. In true diva style, she arrived 2-3 hrs late. So late that there were no more opening acts to fill the time. I was getting restless and contemplated leaving, but something in me said it was worth a chance to catch a living legend.

She blessed the stage with her no holds bar style of communication. A feistyness that is reminiscent of my dear departed Granny. But you have to look at her life. I keep wondering how would artists like Lil Boosie, Timbaland, Jay Z, and others would fare in the heat of the civil rights movement. My goodness, could there ever even be an Eminem? It takes a level of perseverance, integrity and a willingness to take a stand that I’m not sure my fellow generation has the capacity to display.

My mom spent her early years as an elementary school teacher, and I remember her putting together a performance for our class (I used to go to school with her) to Nina’s Young, Gifted, and Black.

You youngins and otherwise not knowledgeable folk, go read about her and check out her music.

She rocked a sweet ‘fro back in the day, by the way…