Today is a very special day for me, my family and millions of fans of Dr. Nina Simone.
We celebrate what would have been Aunt Nina’s 79th Birthday. It is a bitter sweet day for me, I miss her, but rejoice in the knowledge that her music and teaching will live on forever within us all. If you really listen to Nina’s words, she wanted us to be kind to one another and love each other unconditionally.
When I was growing up, I was removed from most of the pressures of the artist, “Nina Simone,” to me she was simply Aunt Nina.
Besides the music, what I remember the most is the laughter and her infectious smile. Yes, we laughed a lot and had a great friendship that was built on trust and understanding. Aunt Nina taught me many life lessons that are still with me today.
As you celebrate today, play your favorite Nina Simone song and remember what she meant to you. Aunt Nina is smiling and knows that we love her.
Happy 79th Birthday Aunt Nina!
Joyce Stroud
Niece of Nina Simone
Nina Simone was, and remains, an inspiration to Black people, to women, to lovers and to those who’ve lost love. As a teenaged follower of her music from the early 60s, I evolved along with her. Her music reflected my weaknesses and my strengths, my pains and my triumphs. Many say she was “before her time”, but I believe she was one of the led the way across the globe to awareness, understanding – and incredible music. From “Cotton-Eyed Joe” to “Everything Must Change”, Nina was there for us all.
February 23,10:33PM
I was exposed to Nina Simone in my teenage years because my mother was a big fan and had a few of her albums . So, at the age of about 13/14, I came home from school every day and put on a stack of albums and sat back on my couch and enjoyed many of the great jazz artists but Nina, was in a place all by herself and her many voices and ranges and piano playing captivated me at my core. So, when Little Girl Blue plopped down on my mother’s Harmon Kardin stereo my attention peaked to hear every note and lyric which had me IMPRESSED. I was so impacted by her music ‘ til I passed her sultry sweet sound to my children—two girls who knew most of her music by the time they were talking. We used to and still do sing My Baby Just Cares for me and Mississippi Goddamn most every time we get together, and they are both grown women now. One song in particular that resonated so deeply in my soul was Buck, I used to think even at the age of 13/14. I’m going to find a man who has great big hands so he could treat me like the way Nina sounded when she sang about him… oh so gentle , oh so gentle are the things you do. which sounded so sultry to me and this Buck character that Nina sang about sure made her sound happy. So I followed suit and every time I hold my man’s hands I think of that song. Thank you, Nina .You sure knew what you were talkin bout in that song….seemingly, in all things musical To her family, Thank you for continuing to share her with those of us that truly appreciated her talent,gift, and wisdom.
Carol, Aunt Nina would love your story…with a huge grin on her face she would say, “All Right!!”
Oh Joyce! This is indeed a special occasion. Nina Simone was special, to say the least! Her reach spanned the earth and that’s why I was able to be exposed to her amazing talent all the way in Trinidad in the Caribbean and from a very young age. My mother lived many of her life experiences with her music and therefore so did we. Imagine her absolute shock and pleasure at meeting the Great Woman herself in her (my mother) own home. Nina Simone was beautiful to everyone she met while on the Island. To this day, I listen to her music when I paint. One of my favorite records is Ne Me Quitte Pas…
We love you Nina…
Happy Birthday dearest Nina Simone!!!!
Oh Joyce! This is indeed a special occasion. Nina Simone was special, to say the least! Her reach spanned the earth and that’s why I was able to be exposed to her amazing talent all the way in Trinidad in the Caribbean and from a very young age. My mother lived many of her life experiences with her music and therefore so did we. Imagine her absolute shock and pleasure at meeting the Great Woman herself in her (my mother) own home. Nina Simone was beautiful to everyone she met while on the Island. To this day, I listen to her music when I paint. One of my favorite records is Ne Me Quitte Pas…
We love you Nina…
Happy Birthday dearest Nina Simone!!!!
Alicia (Artist of the portrait, ‘Nina Speaks’, in the picture with Joyce)