Nina Simone is an American singer.
Nina Simone ( [ ˈniːnə_sᵻˈmoʊn ] born Eunice Kathleen Waymon ; February 21 , 1933 -- April 21 , 2003 ) was an American singer , songwriter , pianist , arranger , and activist in the Civil Rights Movement . Simone recorded more than 40 albums , mostly between 1958 , when she made her debut with Little Girl Blue , and 1974 .