She was told in the nightclub that she would have to sing to her own accompaniment, which effectively launched her career as a jazz vocalist. She changed her name to "Nina Simone" to disguise herself from family members, having chosen to play "the devil's music" or so-called "cocktail piano". To make a living, Simone started playing piano at a nightclub in Atlantic City. In 2003, just days before her death, the Institute awarded her an honorary degree. She then applied for a scholarship to study at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, where, despite a well received audition, she was denied admission, which she attributed to racism. With the help of a few supporters in her hometown, she enrolled in the Juilliard School of Music in New York City. The sixth of eight children born from a poor family in Tryon, North Carolina, Simone initially aspired to be a concert pianist. Her music spanned styles including classical, folk, gospel, blues, jazz, R&B, and pop. Eunice Kathleen Waymon (Febru– April 21, 2003), known professionally as Nina Simone ( / ˌ n iː n ə s ɪ ˈ m oʊ n/), was an American singer, songwriter, pianist, and civil rights activist.
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