Eunice Kathleen Waymon (known as Nina Simone)
(February 21, 1933 – April 21, 2003

Today marks the ninth anniversary of the passing of the great Nina Simone. Pianist. Singer. Writer. Arranger. She embodied the total package, not the watered-down “triple threat” foolery that companies try to shove down our throats today. No one emoted unheeded advice and love gone good, bad, indifferent, and all points in between, like she did. She embodied the torch song like no other. So many singers today owe their careers to her influence (even though we all know that they could never hold a candle to her, even in death).

Her music has always filled my household from birth to right now. It is her music that pumps me up, welcomes me after a long day of dealing with “out there.” Her songs have provided the soundtrack to some of the most amazing things I have ever written and for the future amazement I intend to create.

Many of you have heard snippets of her infamous track, “Sinnerman,”  in commercials (the most recent for the HTC phone) but most remember the song in the climatic “return the painting” sequence in the 1999 remake of The Thomas Crown Affair, starring Pierce Brosnan and Rene Russo. For those of you who have no clue of what I am talking about, prepare to be schooled below:

NOTE: The scene from The Thomas Crown Affair has strong language and may not be suitable for children (and some high-strung adults)…

Rise above!