Nina Simone

Sometimes I sound like gravel and sometimes I sound like coffee and cream.

I had spent many years pursuing excellence, because that is what classical music is all about… Now it was dedicated to freedom, and that was far more important.

I do not believe in mixing of the races. You can quote me. I don’t believe in it, and I never have. I’ve never changed. I’ve never changed my hair. I’ve never changed my color, I have always been proud of myself, and my fans are proud of me for remaining the way I’ve always been. I married a white man one time, but he was a creep.

I would like you to know, I am a doctor of music.

Music is a gift and a burden I’ve had since I can remember who I was.

Jazz is not just music, it’s a way of life, it’s a way of being, a way of thinking.

When you hear my lyrics, you hear the shots that I throw at people. I throw shots because I always been the underdog. I got rejected so many times, and I say it in my lyrics constantly.

You don’t chose your inspirations, they chose you.

In the world of Art there are no wrong choices.

If a literary man puts together two words about music, one of them will be wrong.

There’s so much music out there and so many possibilities. I like anyone who plays any instrument.

Music must be an innovation.

Jazz music is collective creativity.

To play without passion is inexcusable.

When you hear somebody with balls, that’s me.

I did all you can do with a clarinet. Any more would have been less.

If the bass plays the root, a pianist superimposes a Maj7 built on the 5th and the sax plays the 13th, will hot women notice?

I compose my pieces with a formula that I created myself.

In Kansas City joints ran 9pm-5am. Pay was a $1.25 a night but somebody special like Count Basie could command $1.50.

Every day when I sit down to play, I learn something new.

Jazz is a mental attitude rather than a style. It uses a certain process of the mind expressed spontaneously through some musical instrument. I’m concerned with retaining that process.