Verve Records are set to open a year-long celebration of Nina Simone, one of the best all-time jazz, soul, and pop vocalists and pianists. According to Universal’s official site, the Happy Birthday, Miss Simone campaign is a rolling invitation to celebrate the unique artist’s outstanding career and enduring impact across music, fashion, and more.
Among the highlights of the program is the first-ever official video for her timeless version of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You”; a new greatest hits compilation; immersive Dolby Atmos mixes of her entire UMG catalog; and an audiophile-grade vinyl pressing of Wild Is The Wind. Many more plans will be announced throughout 2023.
Verve Records president Jamie Krents says: “There is no way to adequately describe the impact Nina Simone continues to have on music and culture. We are thrilled to be spending 2023 celebrating her life and legacy and continuing to help her music find new audiences worldwide.”
Happy Birthday, Miss Simone launches with the February 21 release of Great Women of Song: Nina Simone, which gathers together her most beloved hits, including “Feeling Good,” “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” and many more in a 12-track selection that will be indispensable to new admirers and devotees alike. The album is the first release in Verve’s Great Women of Song series, which will go on to highlight the works of equally storied musicians in the Verve catalog such as Ella Fitzgerald and Billie Holiday.
