Feb. 21 is Nina Simone’s birthday. She was born in 1933 and would be 92 years old. Happy Birthday you wonder-lady, you extraordinary fountain of power, you shaker-of-the-cores.

There are a few key moments in life when something becomes activated in us. In 1984 Twisted Sister’s “We’re Not Gonna Take It” sparked an intense desire in me to perform musically. I promised myself to 1. never forget how it moved me AND 2. do something about it when I was older. I was six years old then.

Later, I didn’t forget. I used to hide under our kitchen table desperately trying to sing “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” Judy Garland-like or Aladdin’s “A Whole New World.” Sadly, with a lack of role models for musical encouragement, I had no idea how to develop a singing voice.

Fast forward to my second year at college. My roommate brought home CD’s from the library. Coming from downstairs I could hear something irresistible. Something velvety and fierce. I could feel her voice in my cells, a crawling-clawing out of my heart. Boom! Yet another activation. Five years later, I took classical singing lessons with a Russian opera singer in Prague. Another five years and I began singing Nina songs with my now band. That was 18 years ago.

What I’ve learned is that I need to sing. I need it in order to feel essential parts of myself and in order to connect with others. No matter the quality of performance achieved or the size of the audience in attendance, the expression and exchange themselves are vital, like breathing.

So….

Thank you for what you brought to life, Nina Simone-Eunice Kathleen Waymon. Thank you for your gifts. Thank you for sharing them, even if at times it wasn’t deserved. Thank you for the risks you took. You moved mountains in me. What a wonder! I am so grateful. ♡ Colleen