Laura Nyro

Laura Nyro (Oct. 18, 1947 — April 8, 1997) was an American singer, songwriter, and pianist from the Bronx. She debuted with the album More Than a New Discovery on Verve Folkways in 1967.  She then signed to Columbia and released four albums between 1968 and 1971, culminating with a collaborative disc with soul trio Labelle. After a five year break, she released four further albums on Columbia between 1976 and 1993.

Multiple artists scored hits with Nyro’s songs during the late ’60s, including Blood, Sweat and Tears (“And When I Die”), The 5th Dimension (“Wedding Bell Blues”), and Three Dog Night (“Eli’s Coming”).

Nyro was born Laura Nigro in the Bronx on October 18, 1947. Her father, Louis Nigro, was a piano tuner and jazz trumpeter. Her brother, Jan Nigro, became a children’s musician. As a child, she taught herself piano and was writing songs by age eight. Her earliest influences were the jazz singers and classical composers in her mother’s record collection, including Nina Simone, Billie Holiday, Maurice Ravel, and Claude Debussy.

As a teenager, Laura attended Manhattan’s High School of Music & Art and sang in harmony groups on street corners. At age 19, her father introduced her to music executives Artie Mogull and Paul Barry, who took her under their managerial wing. After using several assumed surnames, she settled on Nyro just as Mogull secured her first recording contract.

Discography:

• More Than a New Discovery (1967)
• Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968)
• New York Tendaberry (1969)
• Christmas and the Beads of Sweat (1970)
• Gonna Take a Miracle (1971 • Laura Nyro and Labelle)
• Smile (1976)
• Nested (1978)
• Mother’s Spiritual (1984)
• Walk the Dog and Light the Light (1993)

Sources:

• Discogs: Laura Nyro