Nina Simone's Legacy grows at home in Tryon

[Rob Neufeld]

The nation -- and Tryon -- celebrate famed singer, musician, and activist Nina Simone

by Kristina Blackford

 

            Nearly a decade after her passing, the spirit of Nina Simone enjoys health.

            In 2006, the Eunice Waymon—Nina Simone Memorial Project was founded in Tryon “to honor the remarkable life, musical legacy and civil rights activism of Nina Simone, and to inspire and support talented youth to reach their full potential.”

            Eunice Waymon, who took the stage name Nina Simone, had been born in the black section of Tryon to a church-going family.  She was a musical prodigy, and white patrons noticed.  In her singing career, she ranged from "Porgy and Bess" to civil rights folk songs and blues.  See article about Simone's growing-up years.

            The Memorial Project focuses on three projects:

• The Nina Simone Scholarship – a worldwide, needs-based, open-disciplined scholarship with seven recipients so far.
• A bronze statue of Nina Simone playing a piano, created by sculptor Zenos Frudakis.  It was dedicated in her hometown of Tryon on her birthday, Feburary 21, 2010.  The Project is looking for further donations to help pay for it.
• Plans for a Nina Simone World Music Festival in Tryon that will consist of “local, regional, and (inter)national talents performing a range of music genres on multiple stages.”

            Another project, The Nina Simone Birthplace in Tryon, is currently undergoing restorations, with the volunteer work of many children and teenagers.

            Nadine Cohodas' biography of Simone, Princess Noire: The Tumultuous Reign of Nina Simone, was published in 2010.  Princess Noire chronicles “the life of a performer whose music was always an extension of – and a response to – the world around her.”  .

            This year, Simone’s legacy is continuing worldwide with announcements of a movie based on Simone’s life; and the announcement of a Nina Simone song cover and remix project that will feature big names in music singing Simone’s tunes.  

Links:

• Nina Simone Scholarship: http://www.ninasimoneproject.org/project1.htm
• Nina Simone statue: http://www.ninasimoneproject.org/project2.htm
  • http://www.nc-mountains.org/articles/NinaSimoneSculptureinDowntownT...
• Nina Simone World Music Festival: http://www.ninasimoneproject.org/project3.htm
• Nina Simone Birthplace: http://www.eunicewaymonbirthplace.blogs.com/
  • http://www.nc-mountains.org/links/158
• Princess Noire information and excerpts: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124276539
  •  http://thereadonwnc.ning.com/forum/topics/nina-simones-tryon-years
• Information on Nina, the Nina Simone movie: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0493076/
• The Nina Simone Songbook Covers and Remixes Project: http://www.ninasimone.com/2012/04/nina-simone-songbook-coversremixe...