In 1999, VH1 debuted a five-hour television special, “The 100 Greatest Women of Rock & Roll“. An interesting facet of this survey was the latitude contemporary artists took in crediting women outside the genre for their impact and influence – Billie Holiday #6, Ella Fitzgerald #13, Bessie Smith #26. However, there was one most egregious and incongruous oversight – no mention of Eunice Kathleen Waymon, aka Nina Simone, The High Priestess of Soul, musical voice of the civil rights movement, piano virtuoso, and singer-songwriter of over 40 albums. In some ways, this trivial lapse mirrors a pattern that the iconic female tenor faced her entire life, beloved by critics and fans but never fully embraced by pop culture. For those unfamiliar with the music, life and times of Nina Simone, let the following resources be your guide. For long-time fans, revisit the classics and feel free to suggest additions to the collection!
Jim Holmes – IMC
Nina Simone – music, videos, books, and more
