To Be Young, Gifted and Black

Infobox Song
Name = To be Young, Gifted and Black


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Caption =
Type = Single
Artist = Nina Simone
alt Artist = Aretha Franklin, Donny Hathaway
Album = Black Gold
Published =
Released = 1970
track_no = 7
Recorded = album recording live at Philharmonic Hall, single was a studio recording
Genre = Soul, Blues, Gospel, Civil Rights Anthem
Length =
Writer = Weldon Irvine
Composer = Nina Simone
Label = RCA Records
Producer = Stroud productions
Tracks =
prev = The Assignment Sequence
prev_no = 6
next =
next_no =
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"To Be Young, Gifted and Black" is a song by Nina Simone with lyrics by Weldon Irvine. It was written in memory of Simone's late friend Lorraine Hansberry, author of the play "Raisin in the Sun". [ [http://www.boscarol.com/nina/html/where/tobeyounggifted.html Lyrics and more information about "To Be Young Gifted And Black" on Boscarol.com] ] The song was originally recorded by Simone for her 1970 album "Black Gold"; released as a single, it became a Top Ten R&B hit and a Civil Rights anthem. Notable cover versions of the song were recorded by Donny Hathaway (on his 1970 album "Everything Is Everything"), Aretha Franklin (on her 1972 album "Young, Gifted and Black") and Bob & Marcia (whose 1970 recording reached number 5 in the UK charts).

Elton John recorded a version of "To Be Young, Gifted and Black" prior to his solo success. Intended to be released as a low budget sound-alike version of the original, it was later reissued on the compilation album "Covers as Sung by Elton John".

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