Preview: Music to Your Ears: The Music of Nina Simone
photo by Georges Braunschweig, courtesy BMG
Nina Simone is trending. More than two decades after her death, the Tryon, N.C.-born musician, vocalist, songwriter and civil rights activist is as popular as ever. In 2020, the Nina Simone Project launched a fundraising campaign to establish an official Nina Simone Archive in Tryon. In 2021, a cache of previously-unreleased concert recordings was released as the two-disc Nina Simone: The Montreux Years. That same year, Simone’s debut LP, Little Girl Blue received a vinyl reissue. Simone’s stunning performance at the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival is a major highlight of Questlove’s acclaimed Summer of Soul film. And multiple Grammy Award nominee Ledisi paid tribute to Simone with 2021’s Ledisi Sings Nina.
For the September installment of the popular Music to Your Ears discussion series, host/moderator Bill Kopp welcomes special co-host Andrew Fletcher. A Tryon native himself and one of Asheville’s first-call musicians, Fletcher is well known for his work with the Firecracker Jazz Band and other projects. The two will lead a discussion of Nina Simone’s life and music, spin some of her recordings, and Andrew Fletcher will take to the keyboard to play songs from Simone’s acclaimed and influential body of work.
WHAT: Music to Your Ears Discussion Series: The Music of Nina Simone
WHO: Live music and discussion led by music journalist/author Bill Kopp with co-host Andrew Fletcher
WHERE: Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr., Suite D, Asheville
WHEN: Wednesday, September 4, 7 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. (doors open 6:30) $10 at the door / SEATING IS LIMITED
About the Author
Bill Kopp
With a background in marketing and advertising, Bill Kopp got his professional start writing for Trouser Press. After a stint as Editor-in-chief for a national music magazine, Bill launched Musoscribe in 2009, and has published new content every business day since then (and every single day for several years). The more than 5000 interviews, essays, and reviews on Musoscribe reflect Bill's keen interest in American musical forms, most notably rock, jazz, and soul. His work features a special emphasis on reissues and vinyl. Bill's work also appears in many other outlets both online and in print. He regularly hosts lecture/discussions on artists and albums of historical importance (including monthly events Music to Your Ears and Music Movie Mondays), and is a frequent guest on music-focused radio programs and podcasts. In Spring 2023 he taught a history of Rock 'n' Roll at UNC Asheville's College for Seniors. He also researches and authors liner notes for album reissues -- some 40 to date -- and co-produced a reissue of jazz legend Julian "Cannonball" Adderley's final album. His first book, Reinventing Pink Floyd: From Syd Barrett to The Dark Side of the Moon was published by Rowman & Littlefield in 2018, and in paperback in 2019. His second book, Disturbing the Peace: 415 Records and the Rise of New Wave, was published in 2021 by HoZac Books. His third book, What's the Big Idea: 30 Great Concept Albums is available now. Read even more about him here.