1. What is Laura Nyro Net Worth?
Laura Nyro was an American singer-songwriter and pianist who had a net worth of $3 million dollars at the time of her death in 1997. She was known for her unique blend of jazz, rock, gospel, soul, and blues music. Her songs have been covered by artists such as Barbra Streisand, Blood Sweat & Tears, Three Dog Night, and many others.
Nyro released her first album in 1967 titled More Than a New Discovery which made it to number 38 on the Billboard 200 chart. She followed this up with Eli and the Thirteenth Confession which peaked at number 32 on the same chart. This album featured some of Nyro’s most popular songs such as “Eli’s Comin” and “Stoned Soul Picnic” which were later covered by other artists.
Nyro released five more albums during her career but none of them achieved the same level of success as Eli and the Thirteenth Confession. In 1976 she took a break from recording music to focus on raising her son but she eventually returned to performing in the late 1980s.
In 1990 she received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for her contribution to songwriting and in 1996 she was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Nyro passed away from ovarian cancer at the age of 49 in 1997 but her legacy lives on through her music which continues to be covered by other artists today.
2. Laura Nyro Early Life
Laura Nyro was born in The Bronx, New York on October 18th, 1947 to Gilda (nee Radner) and Louis Nigro Sr., an Italian-American bricklayer who later became a piano tuner and repairman. She began playing piano at the age of five and by the time she was eight she had written her first song titled “I’m Going Back” which she performed at local talent shows with her brother Jan Nigro who plays drums professionally today.
Nyro attended the High School of Music & Art in Manhattan where she studied classical piano before transferring to Sarah Lawrence College where she studied composition for two years before dropping out due to poor health caused by mononucleosis. It was during this period that she began writing songs for other artists including The Fifth Dimension whose version of “Wedding Bell Blues” topped Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1966 making it one of their most successful singles ever recorded.
3. Laura Nyro Career
Nyro released her first album in 1967 titled More Than a New Discovery which made it to number 38 on the Billboard 200 chart but failed to make much impact commercially or critically despite featuring some great songs such as “And When I Die” and “Save The Country” which were later covered by other artists with much success.
It wasn’t until 1968 when Nyros second album Eli and the Thirteenth Confession was released that she achieved mainstream success peaking at number 32 on Billboard 200 chart thanks mainly due to its lead single “Eli’s Comin” which has since become one of Nyros signature songs being covered by many different artists over the years including Three Dog Night whose version reached number 10 on Billboard Hot 100 chart in 1969 becoming their biggest hit ever recorded up until that point.Other notable tracks included “Stoned Soul Picnic”, “Sweet Blindness”, “Blowing Away” and “Time And Love”.
Nyros third album New York Tendaberry saw a slight decline commercially only reaching number 107 on Billboard 200 chart however it still featured some great tracks such as “Stoney End”,”Captain Saint Lucifer”,”Mercy On Broadway”,”Lonely Women”,”Tom Cat Goodbyes”. Her fourth album Christmas And The Beads Of Sweat failed to make any impact commercially or critically despite featuring some great tracks such as “Upstairs By A Chinese Lamp”,“Been On A Train”,“The Man Who Sends Me Home”.
Nyros fifth album Gonna Take A Miracle saw a return to form reaching number 46 on Billboard 200 chart thanks mainly due its lead single “Spanish Harlem” which has since become one of Nyros signature songs being covered by many different artists over theyears including Aretha Franklin whose version reached number 2 on R&B Singles Chart becoming one if Franklin’s most successful singles ever recorded up until that point.Other notable tracks included “California Shoeshine Boys”, “Blackpatch”, “Map To The Treasure”,and “Save The Country”.
Nyros sixth studio album Smile saw another decline commercially only reaching number 198 on Billboard 200 chart however it still featured some great tracks such as “The Cat Song”, “Hands Off The Man (Flim Flam Man)”,and “”When I Was A Freeport And You Were The Main Drag”. Her seventh studio album Season Of Lights failed to make any impact commercially or critically despite featuring some great tracks such as “”Christmas In My Soul”,”Joyful Girl”,”Woman’s Blues”,”Let It Be Written”.
In 1976 after releasing seven albums over nine years Nyros took a break from recording music due focus more time raising here son Gil Nigo who had been born two years prior but eventually returned performing live shows throughout late 1980s before releasing final studio album Mother’s Spiritual in 1994.
In 1990 Laura received Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award for contribution songwriting and 1996 inducted into Rock & Roll Hall Fame.Sadly passed away from ovarian cancer aged 49 1997 but legacy lives through music continues be covered other artist today.