Laura Nyro

Laura Nyro paved the way for generations of confessional, truth-seeking songwriters. Born Laura Nigro in the Bronx in 1947, she attended the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan and found a place in New York’s burgeoning ‘60s folk scene. Adopting a new name, Nyro made a sophisticated debut, 1966’s More Than a New Discovery, inspired by folk with elements from soul, gospel and R&B. Her 1968 autobiographical album, Eli and the Thirteenth Confession, and 1969's New York Tendaberry are some of the era’s most influential works thanks to their genre fluidity and emotional honesty. While well-respected, the fame that many of her contemporaries found eluded Nyro. Her own music never topped the charts, except in the hands of other artists, like The 5th Dimension; Peter, Paul & Mary; and Barbra Streisand. Her story was cut tragically short when she died of ovarian cancer in 1997 at age 49.