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| Laura Nyro |
There’s music for every mood, and this week Laura Nyro has
been the soundtrack of my days with her beautiful, clear voice wafting through in
her unique bluesy, jazzy style.
Born Laura Nigro in 1947 in the Bronx to an Italian musician
father and a Jewish social progressive mother, she was still a teenager when she
sold her first song And When I Die, which
later was a big hit for Blood Sweat & Tears. Stone
Soul Picnic and Eli’s Comin’ are other well-known works of hers. Personally, I enjoy rather many of her slower-tempo, less-well-known
compositions like Emmie and Billie’s Blues.
I hold a special place for her sparkling, soulful covers of 50-60s era pop
songs such as Spanish Harlem, Up on the Roof, It’s Gonna Take a Miracle, Dedicated To the One I Love, Will
You Love Me Tomorrow, Let It Be Me,
La La Means I Love You, and Desiree, many of which were recorded
with Patti Labelle and her vocal group.
It doesn’t get any better than their lilting harmonizing on The Bells.
Sadly, Laura Nyro died all too young, as did her mother, both
at age 49 from ovarian cancer. Tomorrow would have been her 66th birthday. She left
behind a treasure trove of material, to be discovered and enjoyed all over again
by those yet to come.
R Balsamo
Laura Nyro is my number one favorite Musical Artist of all time, her songs get to me on a Soul deep level. I really wish People would check out her original recordings - they really are FAR superior to the "Hit" versions the radio played(The phrase "Xeroxing the Mona Lisa" comes to mind.... ;))
ReplyDeleteLaura, Your Tribe will always Love you, Happy Birthday Beautiful Angel!