Uploaded December 2015 | Updated September 2026, 1 day ago
This episode is brought to you by Dropbox dropbox.com
" I feel more alive now than I ever have in my life. I have a chance to live, as I've dreamed." - Nina Simone in July, 1968
As told to lilianterry.com
Hear bonus interview outtakes, celebrate Nina's style and impact on music and the civil rights movement here: blankonblank.org/nina-simone
Lilian Terry had a national radio show in Italy--everyone from Ray Charles to Duke Ellington appeared on her show--and there was one person she always wanted to interview: Nina Simone.
But Lilian had heard Nina didn’t enjoy speaking with white people. Thankfully Lillian had a confidant in Max Roach, the legendary jazz drummer, who introduced Lilian to Nina at the Newport Festival in 1968.
“Lilian Terry comes from Egypt, ” Roach said. The was was true; Lilian was born in Cairo to a father from Malta and a mother from Italy.
With that simple introduction, Nina waved Lillian over. Soon they were talking about nefertitti and the pharoahs.
Nina even told Lilian she thought she’d been in Egypt in a previous life.
A few days later Lilian went to Nina’s house in Mt. Vernon, New York. They sat by the pool, the tape recorder was turned on, and the conversation continued.
Executive Producer: David Gerlach
Animator: Patrick Smith
Audio Producer: Amy Drozdowska
Colorist: Jennifer Yoo
Subscribe for new episodes every other Tuesday... it's free:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=blankonblank
More Blank on Blank episodes: blankonblank.org/pbs
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youtu.be/DmvmnYEy9NY
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youtu.be/ALGi0tcFCcw
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youtu.be/qDRUzbAa6lI
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youtu.be/C1Z2BkZaOQc
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NINA SIMONE MUSIC
“Ain’t Got No/I Got Life”
“Why? (the King Of Love Is Dead)
MUSIC via APM
“Who Cares” Josh Phillips, Dave Bronze
“Don’t Bail Me Out Boogaloo” Carmen Lundy
“Night Talking” Tony Hymas
“Lady De Luxe” Tony Hymas
“West Side Waltz” Dick Stephen Walk
PHOTO
Getty
Dutch National Archives
Help us caption & translate this video!
amara.org/v/Q8FK
This episode is brought to you by Dropbox dropbox.com
" I feel more alive now than I ever have in my life. I have a chance to live, as I've dreamed." - Nina Simone in July, 1968
As told to lilianterry.com
Hear bonus interview outtakes, celebrate Nina's style and impact on music and the civil rights movement here: blankonblank.org/nina-simone
Lilian Terry had a national radio show in Italy--everyone from Ray Charles to Duke Ellington appeared on her show--and there was one person she always wanted to interview: Nina Simone.
But Lilian had heard Nina didn’t enjoy speaking with white people. Thankfully Lillian had a confidant in Max Roach, the legendary jazz drummer, who introduced Lilian to Nina at the Newport Festival in 1968.
“Lilian Terry comes from Egypt, ” Roach said. The was was true; Lilian was born in Cairo to a father from Malta and a mother from Italy.
With that simple introduction, Nina waved Lillian over. Soon they were talking about nefertitti and the pharoahs.
Nina even told Lilian she thought she’d been in Egypt in a previous life.
A few days later Lilian went to Nina’s house in Mt. Vernon, New York. They sat by the pool, the tape recorder was turned on, and the conversation continued.
Executive Producer: David Gerlach
Animator: Patrick Smith
Audio Producer: Amy Drozdowska
Colorist: Jennifer Yoo
Subscribe for new episodes every other Tuesday... it's free:
youtube.com/subscription_center?add_user=blankonblank
More Blank on Blank episodes: blankonblank.org/pbs
Bill Murray on Being Obnoxious
youtube.com/watch?v=YE6MQ56_yyg
Patty Hearst on Reasonable Doubt
youtube.com/watch?v=3bsi2wZROSc
Tom Waits on Everything and Nothing
youtube.com/watch?v=SyrDfCSZJmI
Hunter S. Thompson on Outlaws
youtube.com/watch?v=P3QoKqEHS8s
BB King on The Blues
youtube.com/watch?v=-tIphqWYu_s
Elliott Smith on Freaks
youtube.com/watch?v=pAP3sYaaBv4
Robin Williams on Masks
youtube.com/watch?v=2PHGmIAv4Dc
Wayne Coyne on Living with Death
youtube.com/watch?v=OJXU7f0hI30
Maya Angelou on Con Men
youtube.com/watch?v=VybIJEA41yk
Bette Davis on The Sexes
youtube.com/watch?v=RNnTUyrxzWY
Michael Jackson on Godliness
youtube.com/watch?v=YoCa3Po7M_8
Jimi Hendrix on The Experience
youtube.com/watch?v=nK2lfs_uiwk
Meryl Streep on Beauty
youtube.com/watch?v=OG_T5dwnJuM
Philip Seymour Hoffman on Happiness
youtube.com/watch?v=Osn8rjkPyYM
David Bowie on Stardust
youtu.be/lFIDXXDsxAo
Gene Wilder on The Truth
youtube.com/watch?v=8PUW2POEjX4
John Lennon on Love
youtu.be/DmvmnYEy9NY
Johnny Cash on The Gospel
youtu.be/ALGi0tcFCcw
Heath Ledger on Role Playing
youtu.be/qDRUzbAa6lI
Tupac on Life and Death
youtube.com/watch?v=6x2FqX2YZws
Kurt Cobain on Identity
youtu.be/C1Z2BkZaOQc
Janis Joplin on Rejection
youtube.com/watch?v=VdF4b1_LQnQ
NINA SIMONE MUSIC
“Ain’t Got No/I Got Life”
“Why? (the King Of Love Is Dead)
MUSIC via APM
“Who Cares” Josh Phillips, Dave Bronze
“Don’t Bail Me Out Boogaloo” Carmen Lundy
“Night Talking” Tony Hymas
“Lady De Luxe” Tony Hymas
“West Side Waltz” Dick Stephen Walk
PHOTO
Getty
Dutch National Archives
Help us caption & translate this video!
amara.org/v/Q8FK
