Nina Simone to Be Honored in 3-Day Event at London’s Southbank Centre
*Nina Simone will be honored in a three-day event at London’s Southbank Centre next year. The Independent reports that this event is part of an initiative with the Montreux Jazz Festival and a creative partnership aimed at exploring the question, “What is jazz today?” The festivities will feature performances by Black female artists such as […]
How Prince, Nina Simone, Jennifer Hudson and Al Wilson Have This Day in Common | EUR Video Throwback
*The death of Prince seven years ago is the latest and perhaps most widely known event of ill fortune to happen on April 21st. But fans of two other music icons are also mourning today. Also, on this day in 2004, a future EGOT winner famously ran out of luck. No matter what the weather […]
Mary J. Blige Wants to Learn to Play Piano to Portray Nina Simone in Biopic | Video
*Mary J. Blige appeared on the “Late Show With Stephen Colbert,” recently and expressed her desire to star in a Nina Simone biopic. “I always wanted to play Nina Simone,” said the New York native. “I want to learn how to play the piano,” she continued. “I love her songs. They are very dark and […]
Kamala Harris Accused of Ripping Nina Simone’s Family from Control of Her Estate / VIDEO
*It’s interesting how one comment or question about one thing can lead to a revelation about something else entirely. That’s the case with what’s happening with the Nina Simone estate and Vice president Kamala Harris. It all started when someone representing the Nina Simone estate tweeted that they weren’t feeling Chloe Bailey’s performance of Simone’s […]
Dove Video for Nina Simone’s ‘Feeling Good’ Promotes The CROWN Act (Watch)
*Dove, Verve Records, UMe, and the Nina Simone Charitable Trust have linked up to create what’s being billed as the first official music video for “Feeling Good,” the iconic song by legendary musician and activist Nina Simone. Released today (June 11), the visual shows multiple generations of Black joy, and self-expression through beauty and hair […]
Zoe Saldana Admits Nina Simone ‘Deserved Better’ Than Her ‘Blackface’ Portrayal [VIDEO]
*Zoe Saldana caught major heat when she decided to portray Nina Simone in Cynthia Mort’s 2016 biopic “Nina.” Saldana’s skin was darkened for the role and her nose enhanced with a prosthesis, which prompted outrage among Simone fans. Many called it a form of blackface. Musician India.Arie even said “they should have chosen someone who […]
Nina Simone’s Childhood Home to Be Restored by NYC Artists
*Nina Simone’s childhood home in Tryon, North Carolina will be restored this spring courtesy of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The property was deemed a national treasure last year, and now, blavity.com reports that a group of New York-based artist-owners, Adam Pendleton, Rashid Johnson, Ellen Gallagher and Julie Mehretu, will spearhead the project. “We […]
ABIAH Pays Tribute to Pop Icon Madonna and Soul Icon Nina Simone at New York’s Joe’s Pub
*Acclaimed singer and songwriter ABIAH will headline two very different performances, on Friday, February 15, and Saturday, February 16, at 9:30 p.m. at Joe’s Pub, 425 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10003. His Friday night show will be dedicated to music from his 2017 release ABIAH sings NINA, a tribute to the music of the […]
Nina Simone’s North Carolina Birthplace to be Preserved
The wooden cottage in North Carolina that was the birthplace of singer and civil rights activist Nina Simone is now under protection by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The trust announced Tuesday that it will develop and find a new use for the house on 30 East Livingston St. in Tryon, a small town […]
Lauryn Hill, Andra Day Perform Nina Simone Medley at Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (Pics & Clips)
[videowaywire video_id=”6E620ABFF868E021″] *Lauryn Hill and Andra Day each contributed musical salutes to Nina Simone at her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame induction in a touching medley that included the legend’s “I Wish I Knew How It Would Feel to Be Free,” “I Put a Spell on You,” “Feeling Good” and more. The induction ceremony […]
Mary J. Blige, Andra Day to Honor Nina Simone at Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Induction
[videowaywire video_id=”6E620ABFF868E021″] *R&B stars Mary J. Blige and Andra Day have been invited to posthumously honor Nina Simone as she is inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Class of 2018 induction ceremony, which will take place on April 14 in Cleveland, where Andra will perform a tribute to Simone. Blige tells […]
Gabourey Sidibe’s Directorial Debut Inspired By Nina Simone’s ‘Four Women’ (WATCH)
*Gabourey Sidibe says she found her voice as a director when Refinery29 approached her about making a short film, as part of an initiative to encourage young women filmmakers. The Oscar-nominated star of Precious has made her directorial debut with “The Tale Of Four,” a multi-layered story inspired by Nina Simone’s “Four Women” that spans one day in the […]
Video: Andra Day Sings Nina Simone; Charlie Wilson & Valerie Simpson Salute Sly Stone in PBS’ Grammy Special
*Charlie Wilson, Valerie Simpson and Vernon Reid perform “Dance to the Music” in a tribute to Sly Stone, and Andra Day salutes Nina Simone with a performance of “Mississippi Goddam” as part of PBS’ “GRAMMY Salute to Music Legends 2017,” the second annual all-star concert spotlighting the Academy’s 2017 Special Merit Awards recipients. Sly Stone […]
Nina Simone, Rufus & Chaka Khan, LL Cool J Among 2018 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Nominees
*The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame announced the 19 nominees for its 2018 class this morning, nine of which are receiving first-time nods – including Nina Simone and Sister Rosetta Tharpe. LL Cool J and Rufus featuring Chaka Khan made the cut again, alongside return nominees Bon Jovi, Depeche Mode, The Cars, J. Geils […]
Halle Berry Goes Nude on Instagram, Gets Dragged as ‘Desperate Tramp’
*Halle Berry took an artistic photo of herself in the buff and posted it to Instagram Tuesday along with a Nina Simone quote that celebrates “freedom,” only to end up with some haters questioning her intentions, and one even calling her a “desperate tramp.” The photo shows Berry in silhouette and partially obscured by the frosted glass of a […]
