Reading an interview with Jimmy Page not long ago, I was struck by his comment that we should be cautious about using the word “genius” when discussing rock musicians. For most of my 71 years, all I knew about Laura Nyro was the handful of songs on the records my brother owned; catchy tunes recorded by Streisand, The Fifth Dimension, Blood Sweat and Tears and Three Dog Night. In my mind, that music was soulful in a way that I could never put my finger on. I listened to a lot of music over the years, but not much of Nyro’s.
During the pandemic, I began reading about her. I was surprised to find out she took piano lessons with Alice Coltrane, and grew up (in NYC) with a close connection to jazz legend Helen Merrill. As a teen, she charted her own course, despite being in the prestigious High School of Music and Art in Manhattan. I finally started listening to her music and liked it a lot.
In the mid 60’s, the 19 year old songwriter attracted attention. There was an initial album with Verve, a session where she was told she couldn’t play piano. Then, a misunderstood performance at Monterey. After that, came a trilogy of stunning albums that broke new ground. Later, the decision to leave the spotlight behind. She moved to a house in the Connecticut woods where she raised a son and continued her musical journey.
This year, I’ve been working my way through a wonderful box set of her lp’s (released by Madfish Records in the UK). At first, I tried to follow her lyrics, but found it better to just sink into the music and let it fill the quiet space of home. In an interview a long time ago, she said that that’s the best way to absorb it. And as I look at the landscape around me, I occasionally hear her there as well. Her songs fill the isolation of rural winter nicely, and the fact that she composed melodies not far from here isn’t lost on me. Laura Nyro died of ovarian cancer in 1997. She was 49.
The pictures taken over the last few months are a tribute to her genius. (That’s not her house, although I suspect she’d find it familiar.) An article here from The Guardian is a good overview of her music. The only TV appearance is a haunting solo performance from 1969: two songs, the second of which is a memorable rendition of “Save The Country.” That performance can be seen here.
JOHN TODARO 
Someone I have never heard of…
For many folks, that seems to be the case. Hopefully with time, she’ll get more recognition
Sounds like being worth a try of listening. Thank you for this personal obituary with the beautiful pictures.
Happy you like the pictures, Ule. I hope you find some meaning in her music. Thanks for the comment ✍
Je retournerai en découvrir davantage, c’est assez émouvant. Disparue trop jeune…
Bonne fin de journée.
Merci. Oui, elle était trop jeune, mais elle nous a laissé une musique magnifique.
Have a nice evening, Marion ✍
⭐️🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶⭐️— Hi John and thanks for this wonderful post! Laura was an incredible talent and left us too soon…⭐️🎶🎶🎶🎶🎶⭐️
Many thanks Philip, Happy to hear from you, especially with respect to Laura’s talent. She was a unique artist 🔷
When you first mention Page, the Zeppelin guy wakes up. Then of course I have to listen to your tribute to a completely unknown artist to me. But what a special voice, fragile and powerful at the same time. Image and music are most associated with film, but I agree, now is the time to lean back in the armchair, listen to something new, close your eyes for a while or look out over the white landscape and just enjoy your own inner treasure of images. Maybe it will create new concrete image ideas too…..
“Fragile and powerful at the same time…” that’s her vocals, perfectly described. And your description of an inner treasure of images: spot-on as well. With your prompt in mind, I’ll unlock the chest the next time I play “Kashmir”
I first came across her name from Three Dog Night’s, “Eli’s Coming” long ago. It prompted me to buy 13th confession. Thank you for the reminder, it’s time to listen again.
It occurred to me after a listening to Nyro that. you may like Eva Cassidy, another songbird lost too early.
I recall hearing about her a long time ago and once I hit the refresh button– yes, she had an an extraordinary voice as well, and gone way too soon…
When I was writing this post, i discovered that Lemonte McLemore and Chuck Negron died a day apart earlier this month. (One guy from the Fifth Dimension and another from Three Dog Night.) Both groups did a lot to move Laura’s music into the mainstream. That’s great that you were listening to her back then. Thanks for commenting!