Laura Nyro was born October 18th, 1947, in New York City. The shy Bronx singer emerged onto the pop music scene in the mid 1960's establishing herself as one of the era's most important new songwriters.
The mainstream pop group, the 5th Dimension churned out instant hits from “Stoned Soul Picnic,” “Sweet Blindness,” “Wedding Bell Blues," while rock bands such as Blood, Sweat and Tears and Three Dog Night made hits out of “And When I Die,” “Eli’s Coming.” Barbra Streisand popularized three of Nyro’s songs in Stoney End. Nyro’s hard-to-classify compositions, such as "Save the Country" combined folk, jazz, R&B, gospel, and soul—even bits of Broadway show tunes . Her music imparts a quality all its own.
Ironically, her best-known recording was a version of the Carole King/ Gerry Goffin hit “Up on the Roof.” And in 1971, she took a foray into Motown with the trio Labelle (named after lead singer Patti LaBelle) with Gonna Take a Miracle,
Laura Nyro was barely 18 when she began her solo career. Only eventually did she establish herself as one of the most influential of the late twentieth century singer/songwriters. During her lifetime, though her albums and concert appearances received almost unanimous praise within the industry, she inspired a relatively small but fiercely devoted following.
However, her exposure as a performer in her own right never approached that of her contemporaries, who popularized her songs. Only much later-- and posthumously-- would she receive the recognition she deserved.
Announcing her “retirement” at age 24 Laura Nyro turned inward, marrying in 1971, divorcing in 1976, she recorded two albums, Smile and Season of Lights. Her son Gil born in 1978, named after her late mother Gilda, inspired Mother’s Spiritual and revealed her dedication to feminism and to animal and Native American rights.
On April 8th, 1997 at the age of only 49, Laura Nyro succumbed to ovarian cancer that also claimed her mother. Fortunately her legacy continues in the spirit of, among other categories, folk music such as Peter, Paul and Mary’s 1966 version of “And When I Die.” What a contrast between that Blood, Sweat & Tears 1968 acoustic version-- and again, Laura Nyro’s own pure spirited and soulful version.
Other artists who covered Laura Nyro’s songs:
- Phoebe Snow
- Suzanne Vega
- Roseanne Cash
- Carman McRae
- Junior Walker
- Chet Atkins
- Frank Sinatra
- Sweet Honey in the Rock
- Jane Siberry
Despite the fact that those who performed her music received the most recognition for her songs, Laura Nyro’s own voice, the synergy she created with her studio musicians, is preserved on more-than-twenty classic albums. Almost ten years after her untimely death, she continues to inspire fans and musicians for generations to come. Angel in the Dark, released after her death, shows a grace all her own, and several of her older works have been remastered.
A tribute album, Time and Love: The Music of Laura Nyro , showcased recordings of Nyro's compositions by 14 women singers and groups, released in1997 after her death.
In 2003, the University of Chicago's Ari Lauren analyzed the rhythmic and chordal progressions of Nyro's early work unearthing similarities between Nyro's songs and the compositions of Tin Pan Alley a making a case for Laura Nyro permanent place in popular music, alongside such revered composers as Gershwin, Arlen, and Kern.
Jill Arnel - I am a published freelance writer who's written extensively on the subject of dogs, including a book entitled The West Highland White ...
