© Carol Friedman, 1993, Nina Simone, from the book The Jazz Pictures

“Everybody is half dead. Everybody avoids everybody, all over the place, in most situations, most all the time. I know. I’m one of those everybodys. And to me, it is terrible. And so all I’m trying to do all the time is just open people up so they can feel themselves and let themselves be open to somebody else. That is all. That’s it.” (Nina Simone)

Nina Simone had suffered from breast cancer for several years before she died in her sleep at her home in Carry-le-Rouet, Bouches-du-Rhône on April 21, 2003. Her ashes were scattered in several African countries. May her soul rest in peace.

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