About this photograph
By the time she was photographed by Jack Robinson on October 30, 1969, few singers had fused gospel and pop with classical music as successfully as Nina Simone. Born as Eunice Kathleen Waymon in North Carolina, her early hopes of becoming a classical pianist were dashed by doors closed to her on account of poverty and color. She persisted, eventually singing in a nightclub to pay for her musical education, leading to her first hit, a version of Gershwin’s “I Love You, Porgy”. Simone's bearing and stage presence earned her the title "High Priestess of Soul."
Print sizes and editions
10” x 10” Paper size, 8” x 8” Image size - Open Edition
16” x 16” Paper size, 14” x 14” Image size - Open Edition
36” x 36” Paper size, 34” x 34” Image size - Edition of 25
Print type
Archival pigment print
Paper type
Canson Platine Fibre Rag paper
Signature
Estate stamped by Jack Robinson Archive
About the photographer
Jack Robinson, Jr. (1928-1997), born in Meridian, Mississippi, became a renowned fashion and portrait photographer after moving to New York City in 1955. He quickly gained recognition through assignments with the New York Times and Life Magazine. His career peaked at Vogue, where he photographed celebrities like Elton John, Joni Mitchell, and The Who from 1965 to 1973. Despite his success, Robinson struggled with personal issues and relocated to Memphis in the early 1970s, where he shifted to designing award-winning stained glass. His extensive photographic archive, discovered posthumously, underscored his significant contributions to photography.
© Jack Robinson Archive. All rights reserved. Not to be reproduced without permission.