Another year draws to a close, can you believe it?
Mom’s new site has been up since Mother’s Day and it is heartening to witness all the participation, the comments, the information (of which there is always something new), and be able to hear her anytime I want!! Shut, I hear music that makes me go “what song is that?” and run to my computer, hahaha.
Listening to WESTWIND right now and marveling, still, at Mom’s perfect pitch; what a gift she had (even though it often didn’t feel like one when she was living).
Read and reread the celebrity blogs today and was reminded how many greats still walk among us who have so much to share and teach. The times in which they lived was rich and there is much history in their walk that we must strive to hold on to by any and all means necessary. Let us honor them while they are alive and ensure they are not forgotten when they transition.
Mommy’s passing has taught me that life is precious, karma is real, no effort put forth is in vain, relationships come and go, and Life definitely goes on. The quality of it is up to us.
To all of you, a HUGE THANK YOU!!! Your support, your stories and your genuine love for all things Nina reminds me I am doing the right thing and, THAT means more than you will ever know.
2012 promises to hail much more of The Legacy, so stay tuned and tell everyone you know to do the same…..
I LOVE YOU MOMMY AND MISS YOU VERY MUCH!
Simone
HI . Simone. I want to say thank you. We grow up thinking that we have heard and seen it all. But then we some times learn that we have been blind and living with a bell jar over our heads. Then god steps in and saves us. My story is a short one . I was helping a lady at work but things in her storage locker. She needed more space. She says to me if I could get rid of those records I could have another place for storage? So I said I will get rid of that stuff for you. I did not know that she had recordings. I was BLESSED. She was into the blues and jazz. In the boxes I found a lot of Nina’s recordings on LP’S. Now some of my friends make fun of me cause I cant get my fill of Nina. She is real food for the soul and heart also the mind. Let us all say thank THE LORD for Nina.
Nina’s music as so pure and restful. Is it possible to purchase the piano score for Nina’s really solid jazz piece, ‘Under The Lowest’
which is on her album, The Very Best Of Nina Simone (CD #2)?
I dearly want to practice that piece….
Thanks Simone for such a gorgeous living tribute to the great Nina and her music. I adore her and this site brings all her music and life into focus. Cheers, P
Hello Simone,
Wow this is a first for me, for I’ve never wrote as a fan before. But…I feel compelled to do so because of the love and respect I have for your mom! My mother introduced me to your mother on Saturday morning house cleanings, when my two brothers and I were call to duty at 7:00 a.m. for house detail.
Nina Simone was one of many voices I heard and come to love throughout my adolescent to young adult years at home in the early seventies.
Whether she wants to continue being or not…she is still a teacher, her beauty, her blackness, and her spirit still reigns supreme! One of my many favorite songs… but most profound was “To be Young Gifted and Black”!! Taught me to love myself, my tallness, my 6 foot large body frame, my nappy hair and my beautiful brown skin! She gave my courage to fight for acknowledgement of being a person… a human being.
She transformed my thoughts, into… Knowing… I was Black and Beautiful. I stand out without even knowing it because I still walk with my head held up! I’m 51 yrs old, her music lives in me till this day…your mother lives on EVERYWHERE, all over the WORLD!! I love you Eunice Kathleen Waymon, aka NINA SIMONE!!
So my sista, we are bless to be able to share our love with you… letting you know your mother WORTH…in our hearts, minds and souls. Thank you for allowing me to express my sincerest gratitude.
May Peace and love be with you and yours,
Che’
Privious comments were to Lisa Celeste, I’m sorry we took so much of her time from you…Thanks you for sharing her! Smooches
KNEW YOUR MUM VERY WELL. SHE NEVER MEMTIONED YOU SORRY TO SAY. I INVITED HER TO MOROCCO AND SHE WAS WITH MY FAMILY. PROUD TO HAVE KNOWN HER, I AM SURE SHE MENTIONNED MY NAME ALFREDA AND FAROUK
Hi Simone,
I just recognized your mother’s song “Sinnerman” by chance and I loved it so much. Then I searched her and her songs. Her songs are so beautiful.
I just wanted to say some words and I wrote you.
regards from Istanbul
Dear Simone,
Thank you, thank you, I have love Nina deeply for most of my life, now age 71. Always knew one could not love another that much and never meet them. Walked into the Novotel Hotel in Dakkar Senegal, fall of 1986 and some said, theres NINA SIMONE. I went right to her, spent three days, visiting, talking, absorbing her majesty. My traveling companions said “she was crazy and so was I,” they ostrasized me, cancelled my room and did not confirm my flight back to the states. None of that mattered.
I still have a handwritten letter from her, which I treasure. The photo of you and her with cornrows has adorned my kitchen wall for years. In working with children since the sixties involving them in a variety of educational theatre, I have used many of NINA’s recordings. Also sing them now in my performances of Strong Black Women in American History, throughout the U.S. and abroad.
Sincerely Momma Kemba (Anna Johnson)
first nina song i heard was my baby just cares for me it was alway,s the last song at partie,s in london in the early 60,s,i remember her performing in a small club in brixton london,after that i saw the lady everytime she came to angland,in 1978 she performed for three night,s at the festival hall at the southbank,on btbbhe third nbight i got close enough to hug her,the the most amazing thing happened nina and i got to spend about 45 minute,s alone,at that time due to alchol and drug,s i was emotionally very distressed,we sat next to each other on a long leather seat i remember her smile and the comment what,s the matter boy blue,needless to say i started to cry simply a wonderful beautiful woman,i saw her every time she came to england took my wife many years later took my daughter jade who also got to meet this lovely lady,i had ticket,s for the albert hall when she sadly passed away,although i am writing this note i get emotional just thinking about this gentle powerhouse beautiful lady,all my love and rest in peace, i will alway,s love you and your beautiful song,s miss simone.
She was much too large for Rutherford and Polk Counties NC. Glad I was exposed to her music during my life. Larger than above reproach talent. Glad to call her “home girl”.
Hi Simone,
Thanks so much for this website.
I was listening to Nina Simone with my family this Christmas and one of us wondered at what point did Nina Simone know she would be a legend in her own life time? Did she know the awe and wonder that we feel when we hear her voice? Did she feel that transcendence of what has hitherto been conceived of as possible when she became capable of the art we now know her for?
Themis Stone
Recently, I have been inroduced to the Nina Simone collection of music. The lyrics and her vocal style is truly artful. Thank you for preserving and keeping her music and history alive. She was indeed a legend ahead of her time.
Lisa, I remember years ago when you lived in Rutherfordton for a brief time. You and my sister Macy
used to play together. My mother said,
“you don’t know
aidyo
Nina Simone
Continued….
mother said,”you don’t know who Nina Simone is”? I truly appreciate her work now. Thank you for sharing her wonderful legacy and music with us.
Sharon Jackson
Happy new year to you and your family!!!Well done Lisa and keep it up!love Pamela from Ghana
Better late than never.
At the age of sixty I have stumbled upon your mother, what a joy to listen to! I just love her.
Pierre.
Hi Simone,
I met you and your mum in Oxford UK in about ’93.
Such beautiful ladies both of you. I went and kissed your mum for a second time and she said…
“Who are all these people kissin’ on me?”
Nina is my queen and Bob Dylan is my king. I am sure his ‘Spirit on The Water’ piano part on the album ‘Modern Times’ is a direct tribute to Nina. Mutual respect I think.
I thought you would like to know that my 15 year old son came down this morning and put Nina’s Love Me Or Leave Me on from my ipod and was dancing round the room singing it so Nina lives on..
It would be great to hear from you, Amy xx
Hi Simone,
I know it’s not in the same realm as you but I miss Nina too so much.
I met you and your mum in Oxford UK in about ’93. (I first saw her at Ronnie Scotts in London in around ’84)
Such beautiful ladies both of you. I went and kissed your mum for a second time and she said…
“Who are all these people kissin’ on me?”
Nina is my queen and Bob Dylan is my king. I am sure his ‘Spirit on The Water’ piano part on the album ‘Modern Times’ is a direct tribute to Nina. Mutual respect I think.
I thought you would like to know that my 15 year old son came down this morning and put Nina’s Love Me Or Leave Me on from my ipod and was dancing round the room singing it so Nina lives on..
It would be great to hear from you, Amy xx
I had the opportunity to see the Musical Soul Doctor – telling the story of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach and his relationship with Nina Simone and I must say that this musical left me on edge and wanting to know more about this Beautiful African Goddess that left a legacy for all.
In looking at the Erica Ash who Plays Nina, she did such an awesome job, after hearing her sing, I had to research and hear the real thing for myself and I all I am left with is one word…..BEAUUUUUUUUU T I FUL!!!!!!!!!!
I’m 22 years old and I come from Bosnia.
I fell in love with your mother’s music 2 years ago… Since that I listen to her every day.. Her music and legacy lives on!
I just tried to send a private email through the contact form on this site, and couldn’t get through… I want to ask about quoting from one of Nina Simone’s awesome, beautiful songs in a book I’m writing. Please email me back off of this public comment page. Thanks!!