Nina Simone Quitting the US in 1970
Been searching out info on Nina Simone & her exploits in the late 60's / early 70's as she was very popular in the UK at that time.
She toured here in 67 doing small soul clubs [[& some jazz venues). But then "Ain't Got No" was a big pop chart hit here in fall 68. She came to the UK to promote the 45 [[doing an in-person appearance @ Soul City record shop for her fans) and to do a Top of the Pops TV show. She had 2 more pop chart hits early in 69 and so returned to the UK for a tour of bigger venues [[March 69).
At the time she was backed up on live shows by her quartet [[in all but name, the Weldon Irvine group) + backing singers [[one of whom was Doris Willingham / Doris Duke) and acts signed to Ninandy Records [[her brother Sam Waymon plus -- on a 2nd tour later in 69 -- the Swordsmen).
At the time her marriage to her abusive husband [[Andy Stroud) was breaking down, so her personal life was in crisis. Stroud was also her manager / booker and ran their record label, so her business affairs must have been complicated.
ALSO, after seeing how black people were still treated in the US and how they were being sent in high numbers to Viet Nam to die, she adopted a high profile Civil Rights stance & anti-war stance. This made her unpopular with the US government, the FBI and many everyday Americans. I think RCA got a bit scared of her being signed to the label -- she'd had a big hit for them with "Young, Gifted & Black" [[written by Weldon Irvine). So her record biz life was also getting quite complicated.
So she packed a bag & moved to Barbados [[where she started an affair with the head of state there). She did cut tracks that RCA released on an album in 71 but Stroud was no longer involved with them & her contribution [[if not already in the can) was added from abroad.
After a spell in the Caribbean, she moved to Africa [[Liberia) & then Europe [[France. etc) and never lived in the US [[for any length of time) again.
. . . Other creative types & black entertainers also left the US around that same time period [[for tax or discrimination / oppression reasons).
It seems a sad reflection on the US at that time that singers of her stature [[& similar) seemed to be driven out of the US without anyone really seeming to care.Attachment 20720
