Me, My Guitar, & Nina Simone: Stories of My Musical Life and Adventures with Nina

Stories about the adventures and misadventures of Nina Simone as told by Al Schackman, her close friend and musical accompanist for over forty-three years. Al also recounts colorful tales of his own life with other notable luminaries including Dr. Martin Luther King and Harry Belafonte.Internationally acclaimed guitarist, Al Schackman, was a musical prodigy known as the "Skinny White Kid" playing in Black Brooklyn jazz clubs as a young teenager. Going on to being a first-call session player for Atlantic and Columbia records in the 1960's, he would eventually travel the world with musical celebrities throughout his long career. Most significant was his magical and immediate connection with Nina Simone in 1958, beginning a professional relationship that lasted throughout her life, and an everlasting friendship which endured through thick and thin. Each chapter is a lively and revealing episode from his unusual life, such as:Nina flying into Casablanca for a concert carrying a gun,Nina sh