Nine Simone has one of the most identifiable and singular voices of the 20th century. She is also known as a one of the more volatile singers in her time. Nonetheless, her music made an indelible mark on American culture. But given all of that, her personal story is not all that well-known today. This list will help change that for you. Number Fifteen: She Changed Her Name Because of Her Mother. Nina Simone started out in her musical career playing piano at a restaurant in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She began to hone her unique style here. But because of the jazz and blues influences on her music - and the fact that she was playing in AC - she wanted to hide her professional from her mother. So she changed her name from Eunice Waymon to the
During the Holocaust in 1933 a lot of Jewish parents were trying to hide their children to protect them from harm or death by the Nazis. The Nazis were trying to kill all Jewish people. There are a lot of people that were risking their lives for the children of Jews. I’m going to be talking about one of the woman that helped save some children. Caecilia Antonia Maria Loots was a hero of the holocaust because she helped save children while putting her life at risk.
A dancer, singer, activist and spy, Josephine Baker was a star and a hero. Baker grew up poor, but her rocky start did not hold her back from success. Baker had major achievements for a black woman in her time; she was the first African-American to star in a major film. Baker was first to integrate a concert in Las Vegas. Even though Baker got her start during the Harlem Renaissance, her true claim to fame was her success in France. She was the first black woman to receive military honor in France. Since Baker was so successful in Europe, she was able to spy for the French resistance during World War II. Although Baker was very successful in France and had found success during the Harlem Renaissance, she was not welcomed in the United States due to segregation and racism. Racism did not stop Baker from being a part of the Harlem Renaissance.
You can see her influence in most of today’s art. I grew up on Janet’s music and I simply love each era of her work. To me, Janet is more than a singer, she is a true artist.
In Liz Garbus’ documentary, What Happened, Miss Simone?, displays the life of musician and activist Nina Simone. The documentary follows different experiences of her life that were critical to the development of Nina Simone over the years. Born in Tryon, North Carolina by the name of Eunice Waymon she aspired to be a classical pianist, but as she got older and began playing in bars she changed her focus to performing and singing. The film then describes the success of her career and her involvement in the Civil Rights Movement to the very personal aspects of her life dealing with her abusive husband/manager Andrew Stroud and her continuous depression.
According to Ruth Feldstein “Nina Simone recast black activism in the 1960’s.” Feldstein goes on to say that “Simone was known to have supported the struggle for black freedom in the United States much earlier, and in a more outspoken manner around the world than many other African American entertainers.” Her family ties to the south, her unique talent, her ability to travel and make money are similar to the Blues women movement that preceded her. It can be said that Nina Simone goes a step further the by directly attacking inequities pertaining to race and gender in her music. However, what distinguishes her is her unique musicianship and that is what ultimately garners her massive exposure and experiences over those of her past contemporaries.
The Phoenicians were a tranquil society that chose a lifestyle of peace and mutual wealth over war and conquest; a trait that was out of place in the violent and war-stricken ancient world, but undoubtedly lead to their ultimate success and prosperity. The Phoenicians were a unique and diverse culture that made many developments and advancements in the ancient world, particularly in the development of sea travel – creating ships that could travel farther and faster than any other ships of the time period – craftsmanship in the form of speciality dyes using advanced techniques as well as the creation of blown glass, and the advancements in the trade system by mainly exporting products that were created with an intended buyer in mind.
Viola Desmond was born on July 6th 1914 and died on February 7th 1965;she was born in Halifax and died in New York. Her family had 11 siblings including herself with her mother and father. She was married to a man called Jack. Her father called James Albert Davis, established himself as a barber and her mother, Gwendolin Irene Davis was the daughter of a White minister. Her parents were active members of the black community.
Hence while Clara Schumann did face a myriad of obstacles to becoming a recognized composer, her accomplishments are noted and serve as a catalyst even today as historical information is relooked and understood.
Information about Ella Fitzgerald prior to her singing career remains quite ambiguous. There are no written autobiographies, memoirs and not much evidence of her childhood written down. Unlike Louis Armstrong, she did not want to make her past known to her public because she was ashamed by of the poverty and struggle she faced before her fame. Only interviews with childhood friends, family and of musicians who knew her off the stage are what are left to help reveal a more in depth look into her life.
Ella Fitzgerald has come to herself multiple nicknames on account of her amazing voice. For example, she has been called to “First Lady of Song” (“Ella Fitzgerald”) and “The Queen of Jazz”) “(10 Interesting Ella Fitzgerald Facts”). She was also famous for being a master of dance. Ella has been given these names and credits of fame do with her talent. No one could scat like her. In fact, she made a wide spread of Jazz and scat music (“Ella Fitzgerald was the master of scat singing”). After all, Scat singing was Ella’s trade mark.
Whitney Houston is considered one of the greatest singers of our generation. According to the Guinness Book of World Records, she holds the record of being the most rewarded female artist of all time. I chose her as my topic, because she represents resiliency and tenacity, despite her troubled experiences with drugs and her personal life. Whitney Houston comes from a family with an amazing, musical pedigree; her mother, Cissy Houston, was a successful back-up singer for Aretha Franklin and Elvis Presley. Dionne Warwick is her first cousin, and Aretha Franklin is her godmother.
Josephine Baker Josephine Baker was an African American woman who had to overcome discrimination and abuse in achieving her dream of becoming a singer and dancer. She did this during the 1920s, when African Americans faced great discrimination. She had a hard childhood. Her personal life was not easy to handle. Furthermore, she overcame poverty and racism to achieve her career dream.
Many people know about Maya Angelou. These people know her as a poet, but she is also an influential speaker as well as a writer. Maya Angelou is one of the most influential African American women of all time. She is most known for her books and poems, for example, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings and also Gather Together in My Name. Although Maya Angelou is most famous for these, she has one significant accomplishment that many people would not know about. In 1972, she was the first African American woman to compose a screenplay and have it filmed. The name of the film was Georgia, Georgia. All that she has written has influenced the people that she has encountered in her life. Her writings touched African American women more than any other
Known as the “Empress Of Blues”, Bessie Smith was said to have revolutionized the vocal end of Blues Music. She showed a lot of pride as an independent African-American woman. Her style in performance and lyrics often reflected her lifestyle. Bessie Smith was one of the first female jazz artists, and she paved the way for many musicians who followed.
Ella Fitzgerald was an African-American that was born on April 25th, 1917 in Newport News, Virginia. She was left in a park at age 4 by accident and got sent to an orphanage, but her mom, Temperance, was able to get her back a few days later. Her family was very poor and racial segregation was wide spread in the United States during this time. Her mom got divorced from Ella’s father, William, shortly after she was born. After the divorce, Ella and her mom moved to a town in New York called Yonkers. There, her mom got married to Joseph Da Silva. In 1923 Temperance and Joseph had a daughter and named her Frances. To help support her family during this time, Ella worked as a money runner for gamblers and bookies.