Laura Nyro /ˈnɪəroʊ/ NEAR-oh (October 18, 1947 – April 8, 1997) was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) and New York Tendaberry (1969), and had commercial success with artists such as Barbra Streisand and The 5th Dimension recording her songs. Her style was a hybrid of Brill Building-style New York pop, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, show tunes, rock, and soul.Between 1968 and 1970, a number of artists had hits with her songs: The 5th Dimension with "Blowing Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness", "Save the Country", and "Black Patch"; Blood, Sweat & Tears and Peter, Paul & Mary with "And When I Die"; Three Dog Night and Maynard Ferguson with "Eli's Comin'"; and Barbra Streisand with "Stoney End", "Time and Love", and "Hands off the Man (Flim Flam Man)". Nyro's best-selling single was her recording of Carole King and Gerry Goffin's "Up on the Roof".In 2012, Nyro was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Louis Nigro, Gilda Nigro, Stoned Soul Picnic, Stoney End, Wedding Bell Blues
Awards
Grammy Hall of Fame
Movies
Broken Rainbow
Star Sign
Libra
#
Quote
1
I always sang, from the time I could make a noise. And I always wrote. I wrote little poems and at about 8 or 9, I started writing little songs. [Interview with Life Magazine, 1970]
#
Fact
1
Her paternal grandfather was Italian. Her three other grandparents were Jewish immigrants from Eastern Europe (Russia and Poland).
2
Performed at the 1967 Monterey Pop Festival. Her performance was not as well-received as those by Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix, and rumors persisted for years that Nyro had been booed offstage. A recording of her set surfaced in the late 1990s, that proved otherwise.
3
Dropped out of New York's Performing Arts School without graduating, to pursue her music career.
4
Her biggest hit records came from cover versions of her songs, by other artists. Among them are "And When I Die" by Blood Sweat & Tears, "Eli's Comin'" by Three Dog Night, "Stoney End" by Barbra Streisand, and "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Save The Country" by The 5th Dimension.
5
Biography in: "American National Biography". Supplement 1, pp. 456-457. New York: Oxford University Press, 2002.
6
Ranked #52 on VH1's 100 Greatest Women of Rock N Roll
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
Glee
2012
TV Series writer - 1 episode
True Blood
2011
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Morning Light
2008
Documentary writer: "Everyone's a VIP To Someone"
The Wrecking Crew!
2008
Documentary writer: "Stoned Soul Picnic"
Medium
2007
TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Ranch
2004
TV Movie writer: "Emmie"
A Home at the End of the World
2004
performer: "Desiree", "It's Gonna Take a Miracle"
The Event
2003
writer: "And When I Die"
The Bernie Mac Show
2002
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Six Feet Under
2002
TV Series 1 episode
The Simpsons
2001
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Final Destination
2000
writer: "And When I Die"
Any Day Now
1999
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Sports Night
1999
TV Series writer - 1 episode
If These Walls Could Talk
1996
TV Movie performer: "Stoned Soul Picnic" / writer: "Stoned Soul Picnic"
Bilang na ang araw mo
1996
writer: "Wedding Bell Blues"
Women of the House
1995
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Mystery Science Theater 3000
1992-1993
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
My Girl
1991
writer: "Wedding Bell Blues"
Designing Women
TV Series 1 episode, 1989 writer - 1 episode, 1989
Who's That Girl
1987
writer: "Wedding Bell Blues"
The Ernie Sigley Show
1974-1975
TV Series writer - 8 episodes
The Graham Kennedy Show
1973
TV Series writer - 3 episodes
The Two Ronnies
1971
TV Series writer - 1 episode
The Kraft Music Hall
1970
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Movin'
1970
TV Movie writer: "Wedding Bell Blues"
The Ed Sullivan Show
1968-1969
TV Series writer - 2 episodes
Francis Albert Sinatra Does His Thing
1968
TV Movie writer: "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness" - uncredited
Production Manager
Title
Year
Status
Character
Broken Goddess
1973
Short production supervisor
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Broken Rainbow
1985
Documentary
Herself (voice)
In Concert
1971
TV Series
Herself
The Kraft Music Hall
1969
TV Series
Herself
Monterey Pop
1968
Documentary
Performer (uncredited)
Where the Action Is
1967
TV Series
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
The 2012 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony
2012
TV Movie
Herself - Honoree
Spectacle: Elvis Costello with...
2008
TV Series
Herself
Known for movies
Final Destination (2000) as Soundtrack
My Girl (1991) as Soundtrack
If These Walls Could Talk (1996) as Soundtrack
A Home at the End of the World (2004) as Soundtrack
$700,000
