Nina Simone

30th October 1998  The Dorchester Hotel, London W1

After chasing around the Dorchester encountering an absolutely wasted La Simone's 'manager' who was unable to speak and staff who knew she was in the building but not able to tell me where I suddenly stumbled upon the lady herself sitting in the foyer of the opulent establishment, pretty much exactly as you see her in the picture.

Grasping the bull by the horns I walked up to her and said, "Nina Simone? I'm here to take your photograph."

She slowly turned her head to me and uttered the immortal words, "So take the damn photograph!"

I did.