Born in 1933, Nina Simone conquered the world of jazz, soul, and blues with her alluring voice. Frequently referred to as the "High Priestess of Soul," Nina performed famous songs such as, "Feeling Good," "I Love You, Porgy" from the musical Porgy and Bess, and "I Put a Spell on You," which inspired the title of her autobiography. However, though the 15-time Grammy nominee went on to inspire many artists today (Elton John, Adele, Kanye West, Christina Aguilera, Beyoncé, and more), her life was more than music. Written in 1992, just a decade before her death, I Put a Spell on You delves into the singer's early childhood, personal racial injustices, her relationship with "the devil's music," as it was known to her family, and her role in the Civil Rights Movement.
Bonus: if you enjoy reading about Nina Simone's life, check out the Oscar-nominated Netflix original documentary, What Happened Miss Simone?
