Laura Nyro |
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Mon. October 18.1999 9:00 AM EDT |
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Laura Nyroby Frank Tortorici |
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Laura Nyro composed the Fifth Dimension hits "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Wedding Bell Blues." ( ) |
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Laura Nyro was one of the most critically celebrated females in the singer/songwriter era of the late '60s and early '70s. Nyro was born Laura Nigro on Oct. 18, 1947, in the Bronx, N.Y. Her father was a jazz trumpeter, and she began composing
Nyro attended New York's High School of Music and Art. In 1967 she landed a gig at the legendary Monterey Pop Festival, but the rock-loving audience wasn't kind to Nyro, who showcased gospel- and R&B-inspired tunes while wearing an angel wing. After issuing a flop debut LP, Nyro hooked up with the young David Geffen who, as her manager, arranged a deal with Columbia Records. She received critical attention for Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) and New York Tendaberry (1969), albums showcasing her moody, sensitive ballads. Nyro became a cult favorite, but never had any real hits of her own. Soul/pop group the Fifth Dimension scored with her "Stoned Soul Picnic," "Sweet Blindness" and "Wedding Bell Blues." Barbra Streisand tried pop by covering Nyro's "Stoney End" (RealAudio excerpt) in 1971. In addition, Nyro's "And When I Die" (RealAudio excerpt) was a 1969 hit for Blood, Sweat and Tears, while "Eli's Coming" was successfully recorded by Three Dog Night. Nyro issued Christmas and the Beads of Sweat in 1970. The following year came Gonna Take a Miracle, featuring covers of classic soul songs and the backing vocals of Patti Labelle. Despite issuing other LPs in the '70s, Nyro's career lost momentum and never recovered when she took a break to get married. In the 1980s her output consisted of Mother's Spiritual (1984) and Live at the Bottom Line (1989). Her sole album this decade was Walk the Dog and Light the Light (1993). Nyro became increasingly reclusive before succumbing to ovarian cancer in Danbury, Conn., on April 8, 1997. Young female singer/songwriters who made it big in the '80s and '90s had been singing Nyro's praises, and some had gathered to honor Nyro on record at the time of her death. Jonatha Brooke and Suzanne Vega were among the women who were featured on Time and Love: The Music of Laura Nyro (1997). In 1997 Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro was released by Columbia/Legacy. Nyro will be remembered for her haunting melodies, evocative lyrics and careful phrasing on such songs as "Time and Love" and "Save the Country." Other birthdays Monday: Chuck Berry, 73; Ronnie Bright (Coasters), 61; Russ Giguere (Association), 56; Joe Egan (Stealers Wheel), 50; Gary Richrath (REO Speedwagon), 50; Keith Knudsen (Doobie Brothers), 47; Wynton Marsalis, 38; Tim Cross (Sponge), 33; Nonchalant, 26; Peter Svensson (Cardigans), 25; and Torture (Jungle Brothers), 24. |
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