Tuesday, November 13, 2007

Nina Simone


American singer, songwriter, pianist, arranger and civil rights activist, not to mention genius. Although she disliked being categorized, Simone is generally classified as a jazz musician and was known as the High Priestess of Soul.

She sang fierce renditions of " I Put a Spell on You", "My Baby Just Cares for Me" and "Feeling Good" with just as much emotion and gusto as when she approached the subject of Civil Rights. Hundreds of recordings exist but her live recordings are legendary.

Often known for being difficult (a charge she took umbrage with) she once shot and wounded her neighbour's son with a pneumatic pistol after his laughing disturbed her concentration.

No one sang the way this woman did.

11 comments:

M said...

I googled her after seeing this, and you've captured her profile perfectly.

Peter Emmerich said...

Thanks Maggie- I appreciate your comments all the time!

said...

always love your drawing pete, you're one of the first people that inspired me to draw vigorously.

Vince M said...

Wow, Peter, you're really on a roll lately. I love this visual! Simple and clean, so hard to do. But you make it look easy.

Callan's Sketchblog said...

Omg this is wonderful! I love that its in action too, instead of just a profile :D I've been listening to her lately (I'm obsessed with her version of pirate jenny) and its somehow not that surprising she capped the neighbor's kid with an airgun.

R.Dress said...

She's great. I have some of her albums. Digital?

RYAN ASTAMENDI PHOTOGRAPHY said...

Pete, I love everything about this....the line, the tonal style, the composition. Great work.

Peter Emmerich said...

Thanks Vince- This one actually took some time to get the right angle and pose...but knowing you felt it looked less labored than I thought is a HUGE compliment!

My Dear Callan- I love and appreciate your comments- and BTW, the song did make it through the email- thanks!

Hey Robert- Glad you like it- the line work is pen and Ink and then the color is digital.

Thanks Ry- I am so flattered when people like you like what I do. I admire you and your opinion so much!

Peter Emmerich said...

I forgot Gary! Your was such a wonderful compliment- You are doing some great work too!

The Bear Maiden said...

You know I adore everything you do and are :) She's beautiful. But it's funny; I can't listen to her. The emotion is too close for me somehow. I think she hits too close to home....

Pasquale Venanzio said...

Extremely nice composition Peter;
it is simple and smooth,bravo!