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Revision as of 04:57, 10 January 2006 by Crystallina (talk | contribs) (cat: American female singers)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Laura Nyro (born Laura Nigro on October 18, 1947 in The Bronx, New York, died April 8, 1997 in Danbury, Connecticut) was an American songwriter and singer.
Nyro was best known, and had the most commercial success, as a songwriter rather than a performer. Her most well-known songs include "And When I Die" (made a hit by Blood, Sweat & Tears), "Stoney End" (covered by Barbra Streisand), "Wedding Bell Blues," "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Sweet Blindness," "Save the Country" (all covered by Fifth Dimension), and "Eli's Coming" (a hit for Three Dog Night). (Ironically, Nyro's own best-selling single was a cover of Carole King and Gerry Goffin's "Up on the Roof.")
Frustrated by her lack of commercial success, and a music industry disinclined to support artistic innovation, Nyro announced her retirement from the music business at the age of 24. Five years later, however, she returned with Smile, a jazzy, laid-back album. After 1978, she would continue to release albums at the rate of about once every five years. None of these works became a major hit.
Nyro died of ovarian cancer in 1997 at the age of 49 (in a grisly coincidence, this was the same age and disease which claimed the life of her mother, Gilda Nigro). Her life partner had been Maria Desiderio. She is survived by her son.
Discography
Studio
- 1966 - More Than A New Discovery
- 1968 - Eli and the Thirteenth Confession
- 1969 - New York Tendaberry
- 1970 - Christmas and the Beads of Sweat
- 1971 - Gonna Take a Miracle (with Labelle)
- 1976 - Smile
- 1978 - Nested
- 1984 - Mother's Spiritual
- 1993 - Walk the Dog and Light the Light
- 2001 - Angel in the Dark (posthumous album recorded 1994-1995)
Live
- 1977 - Season of Lights
- 1989 - Laura: Live at the Bottom Line
- 2000 - Live at Mountain Stage (recorded 1990)
- 2002 - Live: The Loom's Desire (recorded 1993-1994)
- 2003 - Live in Japan (recorded 1994)
- 2004 - Spread Your Wings and Fly: Live at the Fillmore East May 30, 1971
Compilation
- 1980 - Impressions
- 1997 - Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro
- 2000 - Time and Love: The Essential Masters