Friday, April 8, 2011

Tribute to Laura Nyro

Laura died on this date (April 8) 14 years ago at the age of 50.  She was a performer but very successful and influential songwriter.  She was born with the name Laura Nigro in the Bronx, New York.  She taught herself how to play piano and wrote her first songs at the eight of eight.


Laura graduated from Manhattan's High School of Music and Art.  She was very interested in Nina Simone, Pete Seeger, Curis Mayfield and Van Morrison and socially conscious songs attracted her attention.  She appeared at the Monterey Pop Festival in 1967 which was only her second major live appearance.  Rock industry giant David Geffen took over as Nyro's manager shortly afterwards.  He negotiated with Clive Davis at Columbia Records for her new contract. 

Nyro's album Eli and the Thirteenth Confession is widely regarded as one of her best albums for its complex arrangements and rich vocals.  Her fourth album Christmas and the Beads of Sweat in 1970 featured Duane Allman on guitar.  The top tracks on that album are "Upstairs By a Chinese Lamp" and "When I Was a Freeport and You Were the Main Drag".


In 1971, she married and resented attempts to make her a celebrity and thus retired from the music business at the age of 24.  She did return for a few albums in the late 70's but made few public appearances after that. 


She wrote several songs for the 5th Dimension, including the #1 song "Wedding Bell Blues", as well as "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Blowing Away".  Nyro also wrote "Eli's Coming" for Three Dog Night, "And When I Die" for Blood, Sweat & Tears and "Stoney End" for Barbra Streisand.  Several artists acknowledge Nyro's influence on them, including Elton John, Joni Mitchell, Melissa Manchester, Steely Dan and Rickie Lee Jones. 


Laura had great insight into the human condition and was a bright light for the world.  She is missed.

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