Nina Simone

She may not have received a scholarship and a degree from the Curtis Institute of Music, but Nina Simone proved to the world that she did not need one in order to succeed. After being rejected by her dream school, she decided to work hard to train her musical talent. To earn a living, Simone began playing piano at a nightclub in Atlantic City. She is the sixth of eight children and had been able to enroll in the Juilliard School of Music in New York City through the generosity of a number of supporters from her hometown.

Great teamwork, right? It is through their help, too, that Simone continued to succeed. With the recognition she received after the release of “Little Girl Blue”, Simone signed a contract with Colpix Records and went on to become one the industry’s most iconic artists. Throughout her career, she was able to sell millions of albums, which remained beloved to this day.