On the playlist 12/MAR/2019...

Reading through some protocols right now and needed some good music to help keep my concentration. Not sure why but put on some Nina Simone and it is working wonders except of course I am taking a break to do this post. I have on the album "The Essential Nina Simone" which includes a lot of her classic songs. She was from a poor family in North Carolina and was Julliard trained but couldn't get further scholarships due to her race. She started playing in night clubs under her assumed name of Nina Simone so her family wouldn't recognize her playing the devil's music. She was active in the civil rights movement and wrote some controversial songs. As a result she was basically exiled to Europe. Only later in life returning to the US to face a warrant for unpaid taxes. She has influenced a whole generation of black women singers. Great stuff and a very interesting life. This is just the tip of the iceberg.