Nina Simone Is Being Inducted Into The Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

Well it’s about time!

There have been quite a few deserving musicians and singers inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. But, the soul-riveting Nina Simone, is finally being acknowledged. Known as “the High Priestess of Soul”, Nina was an accomplished singer, songwriter, and pianist.

Nina Simone, the unapologetic voice who was not afraid to speak out injustice, was an important activist during the Civil Rights Movement and beyond. She used her music to speak out against the inequality and racism running rampant throughout the country. With songs like Mississippi Goddamn, To Be Young, Gifted, And Black, Four Women, and her version of Strange Fruit (originally by Billie Holiday), the world could hear the struggles black people endured throughout each lyric.

In 2015, artists such as Jazmine Sullivan, Usher, and Lauryn Hill paid tribute to the jazz icon by remaking some of her classic songs on Nina Revisted…A Tribute to Nina Simone. Other artists ranging from Elton John, Lalah Hathaway to Kanye West have also credited her with influencing their work.

Artists become eligible for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25 years after their first album or single. The list also includes inductees Bon Jovi, British bands Dire Straits, the Moody Blues, and The Car. The rock-heavy 2018 list marks a return to the roots of the Hall of Fame, which for the past two years has expanded its range, welcoming rap artists like the late Tupac Shakur and iconic group, N.W.A.

This is the first year Nina Simone was nominated. The induction will take place at Cleveland’s Public Hall on April 14, 2018 and will later air on HBO and Sirius XM.