28. Nina began performing (and singing) at the Midtown Bar & Grill in Atlantic City to pay for her lessons and soon had a loyal following
As well as giving piano lessons herself at $2.50 an hour, Nina also began giving paid performances in public and realized that better money could be earned through these gigs. Nina wound up getting a nightly slot at the Midtown Bar & Grill in Atlantic City in June 1954, and even though she (rightly) saw it as beneath her great talents as a classical pianist, the experience proved the turning point of her career. The bar’s owner threatened to sack her if she didn’t sing, and despite her reluctance, her distinctive voice and musical virtuosity soon drew loyal crowds.
