by Robert Wilkinson
Now that we've paid proper respect to one of the founders of rock and roll, Mister Chuck Berry, it’s also the birthday of another great talent who died too young, Laura Nyro. If you haven't heard of her, she composed some of the great songs of all time.
Laura Nyro (October 18, 1947 – April 8, 1997) was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She worked with Barbra Streisand, the 5th Dimension, Blood, Sweat & Tears, Three dog Night, and Maynard Ferguson, all of whom rode her songs to the charts.
We'll start with some studio stuff. For your enjoyment, here's Laura in some audio-only studio tracks doing "Stoned Soul Picnic,"
There’s very little footage of Laura performing live, so enjoy these few gems!
We'll begin with a couple from Laura's remarkable performance at the legendary Monterrey Pop Festival in the 1967 Summer of Love!
From January 1969 on “Kraft Music Hall Presents the Sounds of the Sixties,” rare live television footage of Laura singing "He's a Runner" & "Save the Country."
From Fillmore East in 1970, Laura at the piano performing “He’s A Runner”
Despite the camera work, enjoy this rare clip from 1994 of Laura doing “And When I Die”
From the same show, “Oh Yeah Maybe Baby” (No, it’s NOT the Buddy Holly song!)Here’s an 8 minute audio-only interview in 1969 with Laura Nyro by William Kloman on 'Critique', a public television series, set to stills.
The Laura Nyro Interview where she speaks about growing through pain and other intimate offerings.
A few videos of other groups who made her tunes into hits. For your enjoyment,
Three Dog Night in 1970 doing "Eli's Coming."
Here's the 5th Dimension doing "Stoned Soul Picnic." From 1969, the 5th Dimension doing Laura's "Wedding Bell Blues."
A b/w clip of early Blood, Sweat, and Tears performing "And When I die."
The studio version by Barbra Streisand of Laura’s composition “Stoney End.” From the same album, Barbra doing Laura’s “Hands Off the Man (Flim Flam Man)"
So today we also send up a heartfelt RIP happy birthday to the great Laura Nyro. You died way too young. Since you left the building, I have no doubt there have been many children “born to carry on, to carry on….”
© Copyright 2012 Robert Wilkinson<
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