Nina Simone before she was famous

She taught piano at home. Then: $90 a week onstage.

The nobody years

1933 Born sixth of eight
In 1933, in Tryon, North Carolina, a girl named Eunice Kathleen Waymon is born into a family of eight children. She is the sixth. Nobody in that house knows the name Nina Simone yet.
Was born Eunice Kathleen Waymon in Tryon, North Carolina, the sixth of eight children. Source
1945 Recital debut, age twelve
She is twelve years old, sitting at the piano for her classical recital debut. Her parents have been moved to the back of the hall so white attendees can sit up front. She refuses to play another note until they are back in the front row.
At her classical piano recital debut at age twelve, refused to keep playing until her parents, moved to the back of the hall to make way for white attendees, were reinstated to the front row. Source
Summer 1950 Juilliard summer training
The summer of 1950 takes her to Juilliard, studying under Carl Friedberg. Every hour at the keyboard is preparation for one thing: the audition at the Curtis Institute of Music.
Trained that summer at Juilliard under Carl Friedberg to prepare for an audition at the Curtis Institute of Music. Source
1950 Rejected by Curtis Institute
The answer from Curtis is no. She believes the rejection is racially motivated, and that belief stays with her. The classical career she has trained her whole life for closes in a single letter.
Was rejected by the Curtis Institute of Music, a rejection she believed was racially motivated. Source
Early 1950s Photographer's assistant, piano teacher
In Philadelphia, she pieces a living together. She assists a photographer, accompanies singers at a vocal studio, and teaches piano privately in between. Three jobs, no stage, no name.
Supported herself in Philadelphia as a photographer's assistant, a piano accompanist at a vocal studio, and a private piano teacher. Source
1954 New name hides nightclub work
To keep her nightclub work from her devout mother, she invents a new name. 'Nina' comes from a boyfriend's nickname for her. 'Simone' comes from the French actress Simone Signoret.
Took the stage name Nina Simone to hide her nightclub work from her devout mother, taking 'Nina' from a boyfriend's nickname and 'Simone' from French actress Simone Signoret. Source
1954 Midtown Bar, $90 a week
At the Midtown Bar & Grill in Atlantic City, she is hired to play piano. The owner tells her that is not enough: she has to sing too. Ninety dollars a week, and the voice the world will know begins right there.
Began playing piano at the Midtown Bar & Grill in Atlantic City, where the owner insisted she also sing, not just play, for ninety dollars a week. Source