Nina Simone dies

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Regarded as one of the most talented and influential recording artists of 20th-century jazz and R&B and cabaret .

She used her music to call attention to the injustices faced by African Americans in the 1960s and 70s and eventually followed the more militant approach of Malcolm X.

She would later cite her involvement in the Civil Rights struggle as one of the main reasons for the slowdown in her career after the mid 70s.

Unfortunately throughout her life Simone had deep personal problems including an abusive marriage (her husband was also her manager and used to beat her to “keep her in line”) and troubles with alcohol.

She was also known for her temper with frequent outbursts of rage that were often directed at her daughter who she abandoned with family on more than one occasion and her daughter eventually ran away from her at age 14.

This erratic behavior was ascribed to a bi-polar disorder diagnosis that was only made in her 50s.

In 1987 a Chanel no.5 advert used Simone’s version of “My Baby Just Cares for me” and the relatively obscure song, first released 31 years earlier, reached number 4 in the UK and saw the creation of this nifty claymation music video.

(After a legal battle that ended in 1991 she was finally able to receive royalties from Chanel for the use of the song)

This brought renewed and wider interest in her career and recognition for her contributions to music and culture.

Simone received two honorary degrees in music and humanities, from Amherst College and Malcolm X College. She preferred to be called "Dr. Nina Simone" after these honors were bestowed upon her.

After years of battling the disease Nina Simone, born Eunice Kathleen Waymon, died of complications related to breast cancer at her home in France.

After her death her estate was the subject of several legal battles and eventually control of it was taken from her daughter, Lisa, by then AG Kamala Harris after it was determined that Lisa had violated rules regarding her administration of the estate by draining $2 million and transferring the money to accounts under her direct control.