Talk:Nina Simone/Archive 1

Archive 1

Archive 2

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Nina Simone Userbox

Nina!This user is devoted to the High Priestess of Soul

For the userpage of Nina devotees: {{User:UBX/ninasimone}}

Reference for Early life

Here is a citation for her early life, if someone wishes to add it: http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200770306153

link is broken one of these links may be of service

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/citizen_times/access/1829998661.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+26%2C+2003&author=&pub=Asheville+Citizen+-+Times&edition=&startpage=A.6&desc=Nina+Simone+one+of+most+gifted%2C+fascinating+WNC+natives

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/citizen_times/access/1829997721.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Apr+23%2C+2003&author=Paul+Clark&pub=Asheville+Citizen+-+Times&edition=&startpage=A.1&desc=NINA+SIMONE+FAMOUS+JAZZ+SINGER%27S+OUTLOOK+SHAPED+BY+LIFE+IN+ASHEVILLE

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/citizen_times/access/1974757181.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Mar+1%2C+2010&author=ROB+NEUFELD&pub=Asheville+Citizen+-+Times&edition=&startpage=B.4&desc=Tryon%27s+Nina+Simone+was+spirited+even+as+a+child

http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/citizen_times/access/1821741101.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:FT&date=Jun+22%2C+2003&author=KAREN+CHAVEZ&pub=Asheville+Citizen+-+Times&edition=&startpage=A.1&desc=Fans%2C+family+remember+%60High+Priestess+of+Soul%27

DocKrin (talk) 00:10, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

Discussion

Hm, one thing I'm seeing sifting through the obits is that it's unclear whether there were 7 or 8 children in the family. Possibly one of them died at an early age? I'm guessing - does anybody know for sure? --Camembert

I have heard her state during interviews that she left America permanently because of racism. She claimed that her dream was to be a classical concert pianist, but she was prevented from doing that because of racism. Her alternative was to be a jazz singer/pianist. Should we include this? --SeanO

I just came across her citing racism a reason for leaving the US - I'll add that. I think her not being able to play the piano for that reason is covered ina recent edit (though the business about "lack of funds" causing her to leave Juilliard remains - I didn't write that part and haven't come across anything confirming or contradicting it, but am loath to remove it because I just don't know if it's right or not - it wouldn't surprise me if racism was behind that also, however). --Camembert

The writer here called her prodigious...isnt that not NPOV? Just some extra food for thought..Antonio Sexaholic Martin

No, no, "I Want a Little Sugar" is food for thought.  :-P Koyaanis Qatsi

I don't think saying the young Simone was prodigious is not NPOV because by all accounts she was, but if you feel it needs changing then do so. --Camembert

"It is widely accepted that Simone's voice deteriorated in later years," I saw her the last time she played Chicago (about 2 years before her death) and I take exception to this comment. She didn't take on some of her virtuoso pieces, but she sounded great. I think her voice compared favorably to other elder singers I've seen. --SeanO

I agree with you, but most commentators do seem to say something about her voice slipping a bit - it's to be expected of course, given her age, and it's maybe a bit unfair to draw attention to it, but still, attention is drawn. I'll soften the sentence a bit (when I wrote this last night I was rather drunk, so there's probably a few little bits like that that need changing). --Camembert

While I support NPOV wording in principle, I think this article takes it a little bit far. If her parents at her debut concert were asked to move out of the front row to make room white people to sit in their seats, it strikes me as silly to write that "it has been speculated" that this led to her campaigning for civil rights. It's a little like writing "Martin Luther King is thought to have supported racial equality".

Should NPOV become a fig leaf? I don't want to start an edit war, but NPOV doesn't mean wishy washy. vfp15 14:55, 10 Apr 2004 (UTC)

I think it's pretty clear from her interviews her thoughts about racism and civil rights. I think many are loathe to put words in the mouths of people (think of the outcry on the Ronald Reagan biography Dutch). I know that when I'm 'wishy-washy', it's because I don't know. I'd rather soft pedal something than put out unverified info... But that's just me... --SeanO 16:16, Apr 10, 2004 (UTC)

I made some changes based on interviews with Simone that I recall. You're right, it was a little indirect. Thanks for the insight. --SeanO 16:27, Apr 10, 2004 (UTC)

Sean, I'm glad I'm not the only one who thinks that Nina's voice maintained its power. I saw her at DAR Constitution Hall a year or two befoe she passed and was amazed at how strong she was vocally. I considered editing that out and didn't, but now that I've read your comment, I think I will! I've made some additions -- and would like to see her honorary doctorate mentioned. But I don't know which institution awarded it to her. Anybody? Peace. -- deeceevoice

Hey, I don't think the IPA pronunciation of Nina's name is correct. For one, it has Simone pronounced with a non silent "e." Supposedly Nina chose "Simone" as her stage name as a tribute to the French "Simone Signoret," which I think is supposed to have a silent "e." I'm not sure about the other vowels as well. -Unitarymatrix (talk) 06:27, 13 November 2008 (UTC)

Début

Don't I remember reading in her autobiography (which I read last year on learning of her death) that at her début she demanded from the piano that her parents be allowed to remain in the front row? Correct me if I'm wrong. If I'm not, this should go into the article as a demonstration that she was outspoken from an early age. Shorne 05:23, 4 Oct 2004 (UTC)

yup she did,its in d booklet of "the best of nina simone- songs 2 remember" (written by Paolo Hewitt)--Adaobi 13:01, 23 May 2006 (UTC)

Gay Icon Project

In my effort to merge the now-deleted list from the article Gay icon to the Gay icons category, I have added this page to the category. I engaged in this effort as a "human script", adding everyone from the list to the category, bypassing the fact-checking stage. That is what I am relying on you to do. Please check the article Gay icon and make a judgment as to whether this person or group fits the category. By distributing this task from the regular editors of one article to the regular editors of several articles, I believe that the task of fact-checking this information can be expedited. Thank you very much. Philwelch 22:14, 24 Mar 2005 (UTC)

The Animals

Wasn't it 'Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' that was a hit for the Animals?

Both tracks ('Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood' and 'House of the Rising Sun') did well on the US and UK charts, but 'House of the Rising Sun' charted higher. Consequently, I don't think we need to edit the Animals reference. Mingus ah um

Civil Rights

Can someone elaborate a little on her role in the civil rights movement please? She was a pretty important advocate of equal rights I think. 'Mississippi Goddamn' and all that. Wasen't the line, 'Ye keep on sayin go slow' in reaction to William Faulkner who had written a paper advocating a 'go slow' policy with regard to change in the south?

Also, songs like 'laziest gal in town', 'the other woman' and 'my skin is black' were all vigourous compositions, maybe not all hers, but whose delivery she mastered with an emotional ferocity not to be seen today.

I think she was an outstanding artist who brought a veneer and panache to everything she did. Whilst this is merely the opinion of one, I feel sure I'm not alone here. Perhaps her achievements could be given just a little more attention. For example, her classical piano training gave her an edge most popular musicians can only dream of. Anyhow, no need to write a hagiographical account, but she was of that very rare type who don't come along very often and I don't think this article does her complete justice yet.

One last thing, her influence is very far-reaching and probably can't be fully estimated, but I think it might take precadence over the use of her songs by Hollywood. A mere example follows.

Rachel E. Harding

"WHY I LIKE NINA" cause she grew me up first like a wild vine clinging to walls and shocking small trees with my grip second like a river cold and fast chasing itself out of mountains to get pure third... she sings where tears ought to be instead she sings From: Feminist Studies, Vol. 19 No. 3 (Fall 1993), P. 653.

Doctor

Is she really better known as "Dr. Nina Simone (Hon.)"? My vote is no. Maybe it'd be better to mention her honorary doctorate in another paragraph --Marysunshine 03:11, 19 May 2006 (UTC) Her daughter stated in the Jazz Icons Series Booklet that she was reffered to as Dr. Nina Simone —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.178.25.85 (talk) 16:13, 5 June 2009 (UTC)

Removed Marian Anderson

Like a number of other African-American singers, she was inspired as a child by Marian Anderson

I can believe that its true but cant remember reading about this. anyway i think its inappropriate so early on in the biography. maybe make a section dubbed inspiration or something, you can than also include bessie smith and maria callas and the likes, and on the other hand artists who were inspired by nina.Marcel flaubert 10:35, 19 October 2006 (UTC)

Her daughter stated in the Jazz Icons Series Booklet that she was reffered to as Dr. Nina Simone —Preceding unsigned comment added by 71.178.25.85 (talk) 16:11, 5 June 2009 (UTC)

Black Classical Music

Did Simone coin the term, Black Classical Music, as a substitute for jazz? The term was much in use in the 1970s. Dogru144 12:30, 2 April 2007 (UTC)

Some sources claim the term came from Rahsaan Roland Kirk.--Roivas (talk) 20:03, 20 December 2007 (UTC)

Removed stubsection ...albums that feature her piano...

I removed this small section because it had no real contents, and should be integrated into the biography or well known work section.

However I do think its a great idea to create a section/paragrah focussing solely on Simone's piano work and album that are prominent there (such as Nina Simone And Piano.

So he/she who created the small section, please do re-create and expand your vision, and make sure it is more integrated into the whole article, thanks already!

Good article nomination on hold

This article's Good Article promotion has been put on hold. During review, some issues were discovered that can be resolved without a major re-write. This is how the article, as of July 22, 2007, compares against the six good article criteria:

1. Well written?: For the most part the writing is great, but there are few things that need tweaking.

• Rather than just, "better known as Nina Simone", it should say, "better known under her stage name [disambiguated] of Nina Simone".
  • problem solved Marcel flaubert 08:53, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
• In several places I caught some British spelling, and this is primarily a U.S. subject. I fixed the two I found, but I would appreciate it if someone would go over the article with a fine-tooth comb for proper spelling.
  • I'm not a native speaker, so I hope that someone else will adress this issue Marcel flaubert 08:53, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
• Grammatically and for NPOV the sentence, "Simone believed that this rejection was because she was a black woman and it fueled her hatred of the racial injustice in the United States." Should be changed to something along the lines of, "Simone believed that this rejection was because she was a black woman. This fueled her hatred of the widespread and institutionalized racism present in the U.S. during the period." This alteration neither silently discredits accusations of contemporary racism nor down-plays the racism of the period.
  • changed into: "Simone believed that this rejection was directly related to her being black, as well as being a woman. It further fueled her hatred of the widespread and institutionalized racism present in the U.S. during the period" Marcel flaubert 08:53, 24 July 2007 (UTC)
• In the intro, the characterization of her voice as being filled with "passion" and the next sentence about emotional variability is accurate, but it's also extremely generic. I can't think of a single popular musician who was intentionally dispassionate. The second sentence is a great lead-in to the info about her being bi-polar, but could more specific language be used in the first instance? Perhaps, intimate or something?
  • I think that the addition of "intense" to passion would suffice. You're right that passion is generic, but esspecially when looking at contemporary music it is a very special feature. Simone stood out because of the unique intensity of passion in her voice, almost liquid for the hearer. In that way I think its important to mention it (also added that she was an alto) Marcel flaubert 08:53, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

2. Factually accurate?: I find it odd that the body of the article correctly distinguishes the influence that classical music had on her work, but that the intro fails to name classical music as one of her styles. This seems inaccurate to me. Nina certainly had classical piano chops. Also, perhaps rather than calling her music "even pop", would it not be more interesting and accurate to have a sentence mentioning that despite being so elusive stylistically, her music was appreciated as popular?

• added a reference to her classical basis into the intro, I removed the "even" out of pop music, but am not so sure to your suggestion about an extra sentence of her music being "appreciated as popular", because that is not generally true, for example her real pop-popularity so to say was esspecially during her RCA years, and for the most part that was in Europe. In the USA she was for as much as i know for a long time only appreciated by african-americans and fellow musicians. Marcel flaubert 08:53, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

3. Broad in coverage?: Comprehensive for the most part, but one fact needs answering, if possible. What kind of cancer did she have? Sounds nit-picky, but it could be important to distinguish. This goes along with something else missing from the intro: what were her most chart-topping albums and singles?

• breast cancer is added. About the "chart topping albums and singles" thats quite a hard one, perhaps similar to her "popularity, its fragmented. Simone was more of an album-artist than a single-artist (lot of the singles did not feature on albums and also did not chart), it is therefore more informative i think to talk about most well known songs, as already is mentioned in the intro. As of the chart-topping albums, another hard one, they never really chart-topped the regular billboard, usually the r&b or jazz, sometimes in top five, and in Europe it was again different. Info about this is vague, which makes it appear like the later albums (of which there is better info) did better than the earlier ones. If you find it necessary than in the intro we could add albums with the most well known songs: I Put a Spell on You (album), Wild is the Wind (album) and Nuff Said for instance. But my opinion is to not do such specific info in the intro, instead people can read the "best known work" section Marcel flaubert 08:53, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

4. Neutral point of view?: I especially like that the article mentions that she was widely considered to be difficult, but that it is sensitive to her later clinical diagnosis. This is the best possible treatment of the subject.

5. Article stability? Seems to not be the subject of any edit warring recently.

6. Images?: Images are great, but are there any available of her as a child/younger woman (other than album covers)? Another image or two other than an album cover would be nice, if not essential.

• I use album covers because I know they are fair use, and I am a bit paranoia when using other perhaps copyrighted media. However, there are album covers who better show how she looked like. There is also one album back cover with a young Nina Simone age 12 from Here Comes the Sun, but i dont know if thats fair use, esspecially because its a detail of the cover. Marcel flaubert 08:53, 24 July 2007 (UTC)

Please address these matters soon and then leave a note here showing how they have been resolved. After 48 hours the article should be reviewed again. If these issues are not addressed within 7 days, the article may be failed without further notice. Thank you for your work so far. — VanTucky ^(talk) 22:03, 22 July 2007 (UTC)

The above issues have been resolved in some fashion, so I've passed the article. Good work everyone! VanTucky ^(talk) 19:43, 25 July 2007 (UTC)

Quote referencing

• "You can see colors through music... Anything human can be felt through music, which means there is no limit to the creating that can be done... it's infinite."

nice quote indeed, but where did she say that? When someone finds reference, please put it back on artice page Marcel flaubert 09:42, 5 August 2007 (UTC)

It's from this Down Beat interview. Sideshow Bob Roberts 14:32, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

Views on homosexuality

Why are we giving such prominence to her "views on homosexuality" (which basically amount to "I'm not entirely comfortable with homosexuality but I don't have a problem with it and many of my friends are gay")? Her views about race are notable because she was an outspoken activist; why are her views about homosexuality notable?

On a slightly related note, I'm removing the suggestion that Simone had an intimate relationship with a specific named woman unless someone can cite a reliable, published source in the English language to support this, per WP:BIO. If the "reports of Simone having intimate relationships with women" are true, let's cite reliable sources that discuss them. Sideshow Bob Roberts 14:43, 21 August 2007 (UTC)

• Hi, to begin with the source is reliable, namely a french biography-book with the support and interviews of many of Simone's personal friends. Just because its not written in English, doesnt mean its unreliable. I will not re-do the deletion because I don't feel it is a very important piece of info, agree with you on that.

The "views on homosexuality" piece is relevant for two reasons (perhaps other ones that I can't come up with right now): - Simone has always had a great gay-following besided mainstream or civilrights related following, with an ongoing discussion whether this is correct or not, related directly to her hating or embracing homosexuality. - The discrepancy between what Simone said, thought, and her actual real life situation (many important persons in her life that she had to rely on gay, but still an ambivalence whether it was OK or not).

I appreciate your comments even though I do not totally agree, feel free to further discuss the issue with me or others!! Marcel flaubert 14:48, 22 August 2007 (UTC)

• • • I agree, the homosexuality thing seems really out-of-place. Her view on racism are very central to her life and work but not what she thinks about gays. That fact that she had a gay following doesn't mean much -- the gay community has all kinds of favorites that way. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 131.252.194.232 (talk) 19:03, 15 July 2008 (UTC)

• • • The gay stuff is out of place. It is well sourced but still out of place. Perhaps an attempt to tarnish Nina's legacy by associating her with gay people, idk.

The fact that gay people like her is not enough to give such prominence to her so-called and ALLEGED views. If a lot of pedophiles liked Nina, would she be a "Pedophile Icon"? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.83.27.232 (talk) 03:16, 17 April 2009 (UTC)

• • SineBot - your comparison of gay people and pedophiles is ridiculous. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 99.255.81.43 (talk) 00:17, 21 October 2010 (UTC)

I think you miss the point. Because a group that chooses to identify as "something" and likes any performer does not make that groups identity notable to the point it needs to be included in the article. I would guess "pedophile" was chosen for shock value. The user could have easily used baker, pilot, farmer, tall person, short person, fat person, hispanic, eskimo etc. The point is, perhaps, poorly made, but valid nonetheless.THX1136 (talk) 15:40, 10 February 2016 (UTC)

Images

The CD covers used on the article need to have a detailed fair use rationale on the images' pages justifying their use on this article. --Nehrams2020 (talk) 20:23, 13 March 2008 (UTC)

American Me soundtrack

I am removing American Me from Nina Simone#On soundtracks. I have found conflicting sources but most, for example [1] and [2], say that the movie has Don't Let Me Be Misunderstood#The Animals version. I guess other sources mention Nina Simone because she made the original version. However, I'm unsure about the reliability of all the sources I found. By the way, The Animals#Songs In Film says it was The Animals. PrimeHunter (talk) 17:36, 20 September 2008 (UTC)

Soundtracks

I've removed the seemingly random list of films with Nina Simone songs, which seemed a bit odd. She's been featured in dozens of films[3] and countless TV shows and commercials; it would be ridiculous list them all. I think it would be better to only mention films where Simone's contribution has been discussed by reliable sources. Polemarchus (talk) 17:09, 26 October 2008 (UTC)

Debut album

The article and discography cite the name of her debut album as "Little Girl Blue," but it was originally released as "Jazz As Played In An Exclusive Side Street Club." Years later, it was rereleased under the title "Little Girl Blue." Personally, I think the original title should stand, as that is how it was unveiled to the world and the title by which the public first became aware of her. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 216.2.193.1 (talk) 22:24, 1 January 2009 (UTC)

Films

The most recent film about Nina Simone is "Nina Simone – Love Sorceress… Forever" by René Letzgus, F 2008, 80‘, F 62.203.133.55 (talk) 07:49, 3 February 2009 (UTC)

"Civil rights songs"

In the section: "Musical style", the article states:

Throughout her career, Simone gathered a collection of songs that would become standards in her repertoire (apart from the civil rights songs) and for which she is still remembered..."

and this seems odd and wrong. The song "Feeling Good", for example, can be seen as addressing emancipation from slavery ("It's a new dawn, it's a new day" etc.), and the song "Ain't Got No/I Got Life" is considered to have a similar theme. The idea that Simone's songs can be demarcated between the "civil rights" songs and the others is somehow wrong: one could argue that although her body of work includes all kind of songs, her feelings and ideas (on civil rights and the freedom of black people) imbue her art and her songs are saturated with this world view.
Also, at the bottom of this section someone has written: "There is another song that is a classic that's been left out; "He was too good to me" and it can be viewed on Youtube", and it sits badly in the article.

Pronunciation of name

I do not know Nina Simone very well at all, but I find it extremely difficult to believe that her name is pronounced [ninɐ sʌmɞnɑ] (approximately 'neenuh summuhnaw') in any language, let alone in English. I am curious to find out what pronunciation [ninɐ sʌmɞnɑ] was intended to represent, since I know of no language which distinguishes [ɞ], [ɐ], [ɑ] and [ʌ], four vowels in relative proximity of each other. The pronunciation was added by Renamed user 12, who was later banned as a sockpuppet, so I can only conclude that it was a bit of pointless vandalism. But it has stood unchallenged for almost a year. I'm not sure what that says about the credibility of pronunciation guides on Wikipedia.

I am changing the pronunciation to [ˈniːnə sɨˈmoʊn] ('NEE-nuh si-MOAN'), which I believe is the correct pronunciation and is the combination of the usual pronunciations for the names 'Nina' and 'Simone' in English. --Iceager (talk) 12:10, 9 February 2009 (UTC)

External link / reference suggestion: New feature story about Nina Simone

As an editor at Crawdaddy!, and to comply with COI guidelines, I am not posting the link to this new feature story about Nina Simone, for which the writer interviewed Al Schackman, Simone's longtime musical director. However, I would like to recommend it on its merits, and hope that an editor will find the time to examine the article and potentially use it as a reference for this article, or, if he or she sees fit, post it to the external links section. I appreciate your time. Crawdaddy! [4]
Mike harkin (talk) 18:07, 5 June 2009 (UTC)

Vocal Style

In the opening paragraph, Simone's vocal style is described as having a "slow vibrato," which I believe is absolutely wrong. As a classically-trained singer, I have listened to and studied the voices of a lot of altos, and no one's vibrato has impressed me more than Nina Simone's. I did not know about "vocal fold flutter vibrato" before hearing Simone's voice, but that's what it is -- a rapid flutter. Other singers who use a vocal flutter beautifully and expressively (not dysfunctionally, as some of my colleagues consider) are Joan Baez and Edith Piaf. The most devastating example of Simone's rapid vibrato is in "Wild is the Wind." I've tried to emulate it for years now... Please let's consider a change? 72.213.40.50 (talk) 19:17, 6 August 2009 (UTC)

Hi, maybe an idea if you created a section "vocal style" in the section "musical style"? Think it would be very interesting. Marcel flaubert (talk) 11:56, 7 August 2009 (UTC)

Ms. Simone's vibrato can also be heard during the instrumental coda on her version of "My Way," among the congas, drums, and strings. 96.244.233.245 (talk) 11:13, 14 July 2016 (UTC)

Redundancies

The article has too many redundancies. Lists of her most famous songs shouldn't be in both the introduction and later in the text as well as the discography. Also, the people influenced by Simone are listed in the introduction, and then again in her legacy later on, the same people, etc. This needs changing. It's enough to mention in the intro that she influenced an uncounted number of prominent musicians, leave references to back up the fact, and later, in her legacy, go into detail as to who they were and what they did with her work. Same theory applies to the songs and albums. A strong introduction should not require details such as all those songs; it should be convincing enough with the right wording and a couple of references.--Leahtwosaints (talk) 03:55, 14 September 2009 (UTC)

Family history

I find the following lines to be questionable:

Simone's mother, Mary Kate Waymon (who lived into her late 90s) was a strict Methodist minister; her father, John Divine Waymon, was a handyman and sometime barber who suffered bouts of ill-health. Mrs. Waymon worked as a maid and her employer, hearing of Nina's talent, provided funds for piano lessons.

While there were some Methodist sects that did ordain women as early as the middle 1800s, I'm having trouble believing that an ordained minister would have had to work as a maid.

I do not have access to the book referenced in the article at this time: Simone, Nina; Stephen Cleary (2003) [1992]. I Put a Spell on You. introduction by Dave Marsh (2nd ed.). New York: Da Capo Press. ISBN 0-306-80525-1.

DocKrin (talk) 00:23, 20 August 2010 (UTC)

Rejection by Curtis Institute

The section Youth (1933–1954) talks about Simone being rejected by the Curtis Institute twice. As the second instance doesn't quote any sources, it's unclear whether it's an actual separate incident or if a careless editor has repeated info about the first rejection. Can anyone clarify? Rojomoke (talk) 12:50, 27 August 2010 (UTC)

Discography

Her discography needs a whole new section like all other artists, with differnt parts for studi, eps, compilatiosn etce tc! DO IT COMMUNITY :) — Preceding unsigned comment added by 81.97.132.125 (talk) 01:25, 22 October 2011‎

Bipolar disorder

Later life (1974–2003) - In the last paragraph someone has sandwiched a sentence about her allegedly having BiPolar Disorder right in between a sentence discussing her battle with cancer and a sentence about her death. This is just plain wrong, I'm new here and not sure exactly what to call it but I think anyone with couthe would agree this is not a good place to throw in a mental illness diagnosis. Can we please fix this? Thank you Mishipezhu (talk) 04:51, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

Well, looking back through the history, the article already had a category on her article for that, but user Koavf (talk) finally put in a citation for that diagnosis with this edit. I do not have access to the Times to check it. Could someone else check? I assume good faith with the edit, though. Have to ask whether you are meaning that it just shouldn't be in that section, or shouldn't be in the article at all. Thank you. -- JoannaSerah (talk) 16:53, 15 January 2013 (UTC)

George Walker

'The first black graduate was George Walker in 1945 who went on to win a Pulitzer.' so the article says. Nice and good, but it seems it didn't even brought him a page here on Wikipedia. Did all go bad from then? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 93.125.148.175 (talk) 20:44, 8 February 2014 (UTC)

See George Walker (composer). Ghmyrtle (talk) 13:57, 3 September 2015 (UTC)

request for clarity

I had to read this three times in order to understand it: "When she began playing in a small club in Philadelphia to fund her continuing musical education and become a classical pianist she was required to sing as well." Howunusual (talk) 21:17, 26 May 2014 (UTC)

So how about, "She began playing in a small club in Philadelphia to fund her continuing musical education and become a classical pianist. She was also required to sing." Martinevans123 (talk) 21:26, 26 May 2014 (UTC)

That disconnects playing in the club and having to sing, and I think the intended meaning is that it's playing in the club that required her to sing. Howunusual (talk) 23:05, 26 May 2014 (UTC)

So how about: "So as to fund her continuing musical education and become a classical pianist, she began playing in a small club in Philadelphia where she was also required to sing." Ghmyrtle (talk) 23:08, 26 May 2014 (UTC)

Yes, looks fine to me, or even just "To fund her.. " Martinevans123 (talk) 10:13, 27 May 2014 (UTC)

Awards List

The article says twice that Nina Simone was nominated for fifteen Grammy Awards. Can we create a list of those and other nominations and awards either in this article or a separate one, like many other musicians have? I can't find a place where such a list might already exist, but the article for Black Gold mentions that it was nominated for a Grammy, so that's a place to start. Helixer (hábleme) 04:38, 18 September 2014 (UTC)

New documentary, new tribute albums

Per this new WSJ article: A Tribute to the Enduring Voice of Nina Simone. Not sure if it's paywalled, as I'm a subscriber. I'd be happy to forward a copy to any interested editor. --Pete Tillman (talk) 06:01, 24 June 2015 (UTC)

Perhaps worth a mention somewhere

As part of their 25th anniversary celebrations, the UK's Jazz FM aired a rare interview their presenter David Freeman did with Nina Simone in 1998. At the time she went on to request that he introduce her at a concert she gave at the Albert Hall a few days later. Here's an article about it anyway. This is Paul (talk) 13:27, 3 September 2015 (UTC)

Marriage, ex-husband, daughter and lawsuits following her death?

This article seems like a stub, or, at least there are numerous gaping holes in what is covered in the article. Hers years of marriage, children, and lawsuits for rights to recordings should all be mentioned in this article.... Just my opinion.

User:72.28.176.168 (User_talk:72.28.176.168) 14:37, 14 November 2015 (UTC)

The article was last reviewed as a GA over 5 years ago - [5] - so it's probably overdue for another look. Those things can be added to the article if you can find reliable sources for them - which I am sure exist. Ghmyrtle (talk) 20:26, 14 November 2015 (UTC)

---

Please forgive my not knowing exactly how to format this message, but I read this article and found that the following two sections appear to present reverse chronologies:

"With the help of her supporters in Tryon, she enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music in New York but was unable to continue because of the high fees.[2] She was later denied a scholarship to study at the prestigious Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, despite a well-received audition."

"After high school, she studied for an interview with the help of a private tutor to study piano further at the Curtis Institute, but was rejected. Fully convinced that she had been turned down due to her race, she then moved to New York City, where she enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music." — Preceding unsigned comment added by Ai4ijoel (talk • contribs) 15:02, 16 February 2016 (UTC)

"NPOV dispute [Civil rights era (1964–74)]

Her message to the public signified the transition from the non violent approach to social change that was advocated by Martin Luther King into the more militant state that was implemented by Malcolm X and the associates of the Black Nationalist Movement.[25] Nevertheless, she wrote in her autobiography that she and her family regarded all races as equal.

1. Being a black nationalist does not imply that you believe in racial inequality so it is misleading to say "nevertheless" 2. There was no militant state implemented by Malcolm X et al 3. They did however advocate for self defense and possibly a separate state — Preceding unsigned comment added by 192.222.184.132 (talk) 22:42, 13 March 2016 (UTC)

Birth state

The second paragraph says she was born in North Carolina, but the INFOBOX says South Carolina. The North Carolina mention appears to have a reference but it is a book I do not have. In addition, this bio perhaps official, says North Carolina, so I think North Carolina's correct but I hope someone can make sure and make the necessary correction.--S Philbrick(Talk) 15:01, 19 April 2016 (UTC)

It is North Carolina according to her autobiography. Her parents families have roots in South Carolina, that's perhaps where the confusion comes from. Karst (talk) 15:03, 12 March 2017 (UTC)

Nina Simone discography

Support split - Discography section takes up more than one third of the page, and should be split to a new article entitled Nina Simone discography. --Jax 0677 (talk) 03:14, 19 February 2017 (UTC)

• Support. Absolutely. I'm surprised it hasn't been done before now. Ghmyrtle (talk) 07:49, 19 February 2017 (UTC)
• Support as above --Iztwoz (talk) 09:24, 28 February 2017 (UTC)

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