Nina Simone and Langston Hughes forged a creative partnership
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In 1949, poet Langston Hughes noticed 16-year-old Eunice Waymon, later known as Nina Simone, playing piano at her high school in Asheville, North Carolina, and recognised her talent.
Hughes, a central figure of the Harlem Renaissance, encouraged Simone to pursue her musical ambitions and the two developed a close friendship after Simone moved to New York City in 1959.
Hughes actively supported Simone’s career, securing her a performance at the 1960 Newport Jazz Festival and writing an article for The Chicago Defender that distinguished her from Billie Holiday by emphasising her piano skills. Hughes also shared his songwriting with Simone, suggesting she perform an obscure folk song and later proposing a series of songs focused on themes of magic and enchantment.
While Simone ultimately chose to record Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You” instead of Hughes’ lyrics, the song became her signature tune and helped establish her persona.
Their collaboration continued with Hughes writing “Backlash Blues,” which Simone debuted at Lincoln Center in 1966 and performed until after Hughes’ death in 1967, adding a verse to honour him and his encouragement to “keep on workin’.” Simone’s 1967 album The High Priestess of Soul continued the magical themes inspired by Hughes, with a cover depicting Simone as a sorceress.
