Laura Nyro
b. Laura Nigro, 18 October 1947, The Bronx, New York City, USA. The daughter of an accomplished jazz trumpeter, Nyro was introduced to music at an early age, reputedly completing her first composition when she was only eight years old. Her main influences ranged from Bob Dylan to John Coltrane, but the artist's debut MORE THAN A NEW DISCOVERY (aka THE FIRST SONGS) revealed a talent akin to Brill Building songwriters Carole King and Ellie Greenwich. Nyro's empathy for soul and R&B enhanced her individuality, although she later disowned the set, claiming its stilted arrangements were completed against her wishes. The set nonetheless contained several songs adapted by other artists, notably Stoney End ( Barbra Streisand), And When I Die ( Blood, Sweat And Tears) and Wedding Bell Blues ( Fifth Dimension). ELI AND THE THIRTEENTH CONFESSION complied more closely to Nyro's wishes; while containing the highly popular Stone Souled Picnic, it revealed the growing sense of introspection that flourished on the following year's NEW YORK TENDABERRY. Here the singer's dramatic intonation, capable of sweeping from a whisper to anguished vibrato within a phrase, emphasized a bare emotional nerve exposed on You Don't Love Me When I Cry and Sweet Lovin Baby’. Her frequent jumps in tempo irked certain critics, but the majority applauded its audacious ambition and peerless fusion of gospel and white soul. The extraordinary CHRISTMAS AND THE BEADS OF SWEAT, which included the startling Christmas Is My Soul, offered a similar passion while GONNA TAKE A MIRACLE, a collaboration with producers Kenny Gambleand Leon Huff, acknowledged the music which provided much of the artist's inspiration. Backed by the Sigma Sound Studio houseband and singing trio Labelle, Nyro completed enthralling versions of uptown R&B and Motown favourites. She then retired from music altogether, but re-emerged in 1975 upon the disintegration of her marriage. SMILE showed the singer's talent had remained intact and included the powerful I Am The Blues, while an attendant promotional tour spawned SEASON OF LIGHTS. NESTED was, however, less impressive and a further domestically-inspired hiatus followed. MOTHER'S SPIRITUAL reflected Nyro's reactions to both parenthood and ageing; her comeback was confirmed in 1988 when she embarked on her first concert tour in over a decade. Laura Nyro remains a singularly impressive performer while her intonation has proved influential on several other female singers, notably Rickie Lee Jones.