NINA SIMONE - NINA SIMONE DIES

Legendary jazz and blues singer NINA SIMONE has died - she was 70.

Simone - who won critical acclaim and international fame with hits like MY BABY JUST CARES FOR ME and I PUT A SPELL ON YOU - was at her house in southern France when she passed away.

Her manager CLIFTON HENDERSON released a statement to confirm she died yesterday (21APR03) of "natural causes" after a long illness.

Simone, real name EUNICE KATHLEEN WAYMON, had a long and successful career spanning from the late 1950s when she shot to fame with her hit I LOVE YOU PORGY. She was a controversial figure who was closely affiliated with the black civil rights movement. She is survived by her daughter SIMONE.