- Nyro, Laura
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▪ 1998, American singer and songwriter (b. Oct. 18, 1947, New York, N.Y.—d. April 8, 1997, Danbury, Conn.), made solo recordings of her emotional, confessional songs, had a cult following, and influenced a number of other songwriters but made her biggest impact when her songs were recorded by other popular artists. Among those were "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Wedding Bell Blues," recorded by the Fifth Dimension; "And When I Die," by Peter, Paul & Mary and later by Blood, Sweat & Tears; and "Stoney End" by Barbra Streisand. Nyro began writing songs when she was 8 years old, and by the time she was 18, she had released her first album, More than a New Discovery (1966). She was invited to perform at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival, but her perception that her soulful style and appearance had not been to the rock-oriented audience's taste caused her to avoid public appearances for several years. Nyro continued making albums, though, and other singers began making hit recordings of her songs. Eli and the Thirteenth Confession was released in 1968, and New York Tendaberry (1969), Christmas and the Beads of Sweat (1970), and Gonna Take a Miracle (1971) followed. Nyro then left the music business for a while, married, and had a child. After her marriage ended, she began recording again—beginning with Smile (1976) and following that with Nested (1978), Mother's Spiritual (1984), Live at the Bottom Line (1989), and Walk the Dog and Light the Light (1993)—and occasionally performed. The retrospective album The Best of Laura Nyro: Stoned Soul Picnic was released shortly before Nyro's death; a tribute concert was held in New York City in October 1997; and work on a tribute album was under way.
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▪ American singeroriginal name Laura Nigroborn Oct. 18, 1947, New York, N.Y., U.S.died April 8, 1997, Danbury, Conn.American singer-songwriter (singer-songwriters) who during the 1960s and '70s welded urban folk blues to the gospel (gospel music) resonance of the girl group (girl groups) sound. She is remembered both as a unique vocal stylist and as the composer of songs that were major hits for other recording artists.The daughter of a jazz trumpeter, Nyro began playing the piano at an early age and attended New York City's High School of Music and Art. She also began writing songs while young, and, though her own recording career started slowly, others had success with songs she had written, notably the Fifth Dimension (“Wedding Bell Blues” and “Stoned Soul Picnic”), Barbra Streisand (Streisand, Barbra) (“Stoney End”), Three Dog Night (“Eli's Coming”), and Blood, Sweat and Tears (“And When I Die”). A wayward yet reclusive artist, Nyro resisted pressure to streamline her songs for mass consumption. She was shaken after being booed off the stage by Janis Joplin (Joplin, Janis) fans at the 1967 Monterey (California) Pop Festival, but, under the guidance of agent and later music mogul David Geffen, she grew more popular with the release of the cult-classic albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) and New York Tendaberry (1969). Nyro incorporated a diversity of influences in her writing and performing, drawing on rhythm and blues, soul (soul music), gospel, folk, jazz, and - and Tin Pan Alley-style pop. Despite “retiring” from the music scene twice in the 1970s, Nyro continued to record and perform periodically until her death from cancer at age 49.Lucy M. O'Brien* * *
Universalium. 2010.
