Pink Floyd is one of the most famous rock bands in music history. Known for their deep lyrics, long songs, and experimental sound, the band created some of the most influential albums ever made. But many fans don’t realize that the members of Pink Floyd were inspired by many different types of music. One surprising influence on guitarist David Gilmour was soul music—especially the powerful voice of Nina Simone.
Pink Floyd began in the mid-1960s during the rise of psychedelic rock in the United Kingdom. At that time, the band was led by guitarist and songwriter Syd Barrett. Barrett was known for his creative ideas and unusual songwriting style, which helped shape the band’s early sound. However, his heavy use of drugs and declining mental health began to make things difficult for the rest of the band.
In 1967, David Gilmour joined Pink Floyd. Interestingly, Gilmour had been friends with Syd Barrett since their school days in Cambridge. He was originally brought in to support Barrett on guitar and vocals during live performances. But within a few months, Barrett left the band completely, and Gilmour became a full member. His arrival changed the band in many ways.
Gilmour brought not only his guitar skills but also his own musical influences. While Pink Floyd had been focused mostly on psychedelic rock, Gilmour enjoyed many other styles of music. One genre he especially loved was soul music.
Soul music was very popular in the 1960s. In the United States, artists like Marvin Gaye, Aretha Franklin, and Sam Cooke were creating emotional songs that connected deeply with listeners. Many of these songs were also connected to the civil rights movement and spoke about freedom, equality, and human struggle. Through record labels like Motown, this music spread around the world and became popular in the United Kingdom as well.
Among all the soul artists of that era, Nina Simone stood out the most to David Gilmour. Simone was not just a singer—she was also a pianist, songwriter, and activist. Her music blended jazz, blues, soul, and classical influences, creating a sound that was powerful and unique. She was also known for singing songs about social justice and civil rights.
One performance by Nina Simone especially impressed Gilmour. In 1965, she released her famous version of the song “I Put a Spell on You.” The song was originally written and performed by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, but Simone’s version was very different. Her emotional singing and dramatic style made the song unforgettable.
Gilmour once said that Simone’s recording of the song felt like magic. He particularly loved the emotion in her voice and the beautiful saxophone solo in the track. In fact, he remembered exactly when he first heard the song. According to Gilmour, he first listened to it while living in Paris around 1966 or 1967. The performance impressed him so much that he never forgot it.
Even though Nina Simone’s soul style did not directly shape the sound of Pink Floyd’s music, Gilmour’s wide musical taste helped bring new ideas to the band. After Syd Barrett left, Pink Floyd needed new inspiration and direction. Gilmour played a major role in helping the band evolve and move forward.
In the end, the success of Pink Floyd came from many different influences and creative voices. Artists like Nina Simone may seem very different from Pink Floyd’s psychedelic rock style, but they still helped inspire musicians like David Gilmour. This shows how music from different genres can influence each other and shape the sound of future generations.