Nina Simone

Racism is on the rise. Misogyny is on the rise. These  awful social trends remind me of what Nina Simone said to me. She was the victim of cruel prejudice. She was angry. Nina Simone was born on February 21st 1933. There has been news recently of a plan to buy Nina Simone's childhood home in Tryon North Carolina and make it into a museum celebrating the life and work of the girl who was born Eunice Waymon. I interviewed Nina  in December 1998 just before her last ever show at the Royal Albert Hall in London. She was talking to me for a programme on the radio station Jazz fm, which would promote the concert. Nina had a reputation for being a tricky interviewee but on the day she was delightful and during the conversation she was eager to give her views on sexism, racism and feminism. After the interview I  was asked to introduce Nina on stage at the Albert Hall. It was a memorable day.