NINA SIMONE WAS AS POWERFUL AND COMPLEX A PERSON AS THE MUSIC SHE PLAYED. SHE CALLED IT 'BLACK CLASSICAL MUSIC,' AND IT RESISTS ALL DEFINITIONS. IT'S JAZZ, RHYTHM AND BLUES, FOLK, GOSPEL. IT'S A COMBINATION AS RICH AS THE CULTURE. LIKE ANY LEGEND, NINA SIMONE BECAME A SYMBOL FOR PEOPLE AND MOVEMENTS THROUGH THE YEARS, BUT HOWEVER SHE WAS FIRST AND FOREMOST A PERFORMER. SHE ACTED OUT THE STORY OF EACH SONG AS IF IT HAPPENED TO HER JUST YESTERDAY. THIS HOUR, WE'LL HEAR ABOUT THE MUSIC AND LIFE OF NINA SIMONE FROM COLLEAGUES AND FRIENDS - ODETTA, CAMILLE YARBROUGH, GUITARIST AL SCHACKMAN, PATTI SMITH, JOURNALIST DAVID NATHAN, AND MORE.

Produced by JOYRIDE MEDIA, creators of acclaimed music documentaries featuring artists like Bob Dylan, Benny Goodman, Johnny Cash, and many others. Hosted by Simone, acclaimed vocalist and daughter of Nina Simone.

Music throughout this program includes some of her trademark number plus previously unreleased tracks now available on the new Legacy Recordings box set "TO BE FREE: THE NINA SIMONE STORY."

Program hour includes breaks for local spots and no embedded national spot.

ANDY CAHN - 212-833-6279, andy.cahn@sonybmg.com
ERIC MOLK - 212-833-5389, eric.molk@sonybmg.com