Welcome to the three-part podcast series, To Be Free: The Nina Simone Story.

Nina Simone was as powerful and complex a person as the music she played.  In this first episode, Nina’s daughter, known simply as Simone, and journalist David Nathan try their best to define what Nina meant by the concept of “black classical music.”  A great example of this mixture of muscical ideas is found in the performance of “Love Me or Leave Me” from the Ed Sullivan Show in 1960.

This piece also features some great comments by folk singer, Odetta, and Nina’s musical director Al Schackman.  It also includes music from the new deluxe box set, also titled To Be Free: The Nina Simone Story.

Recommended: To Be Free: The Nina Simone Story

Producer: Joyride Media