 To fund her private lessons , Simone performed at the Midtown Bar & Grill on Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City , whose owner insisted that she sing as well as play the piano , which increased her weekly income to $ 90 a week . In 1954 , she adopted the stage name " Nina Simone " . " Nina " ( from niña , meaning " little girl " in Spanish ) , and " Simone " was taken from the French actress Simone Signoret , whom she had seen in the movie Casque d 'Or . Knowing her mother would not approve of playing the " Devil 's Music " , she used her new stage name to remain undetected . Simone 's mixture of jazz , blues , and classical music in her performances at the bar earned her a small but loyal fan base . 
 To fund her private lessons , Simone performed at the Midtown Bar & Grill on Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City , whose owner insisted that she sing as well as play the piano , which increased her weekly income to $ 90 a week . In 1954 , she adopted the stage name " Nina Simone " . " Nina " ( from niña , meaning " little girl " in Spanish ) , and " Simone " was taken from the French actress Simone Signoret , whom she <a href='been_done' title='1'><mark>had</mark></a> seen in the movie Casque d 'Or . Knowing her mother would not approve of playing the " Devil <a href='null_genetive' title='2'><mark>'s</mark></a>Music " , she used her new stage name to remain undetected . Simone <a href='null_genetive' title='3'><mark>'s</mark></a>mixture of jazz , blues , and classical music in her performances at the bar earned her a small but loyal fan base . 
To fund her private lessons , Simone performed at da Midtown Bar & Grill on Pacific Avenue in Atlantic City , whose owner insisted that she sing as well as play tdapiano , which increased her weekly income to $ 90 a week . In 1954 , she adopted the stage name " Nina Simone " . " Nina " ( from niña , meaning " lil girl " in Spanish ) , and " Simone " was taken from the French actress Simone Signoret , whom she done seen in the movie Casque d 'Or . Knowing her mother would not approve of playin the " Devil  Music " , she used her new stage name to remain undetected . Simone  mixture of jazz , blues , and classical music in her performances at the bar earned her a small but loyal fan base .