A Tribute To Nyro

[jazzy_dave]

Most of the morning, apart from house cleaning, has been listening to some CD's ending with a great album by Laura Nyro. I think in many ways she was the most under-rated singer of the late sixties and seventies. She made a comeback album in 1993 , which i listened to today, Walk The Dog & Light The Light.  The track i have chosen is Louise's Church.

So in a way, this is my tribute to Laura Nyro (1947-1997) and a  tribute to some of the women she most admired: sculptor Louise Nevelson, poet Sappho, artist Frida Kahlo and singer Billie Holiday.

Laura Nyro was a giant as a musical composer and arranger from the early 1960's until her premature death from ovarian cancer.

Laura was a lesbian-feminist identified artist who lived her last 17 years with the love of her life, artist Maria Desiderio.

She was finally accepted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2012 after a disgraceful delay of 15 years since her passing.

Louise's Church Lyrics:

Sappho was a poet
Billie was a real musician
Frida drew the moon
I'm going by Louise's Church
She built in the city
Art of grace & style
That could make me smile
Talk to me
Goddess of life & music
Shine on me awhile

Sappho was a poet
Billie was a real musician
Frida drew the moon
The candle at Louise's Church
Lite it for your vision
For the changes
To save the planet of ages
Talk to us
Heavenly Muse
Shine on us awhile

Her music always makes me well up in emotions. Enjoy.

Comments

[a-phoenixdragon.livejournal.com]

*HUGS*

I love music that makes you FEEL...

[maiac.livejournal.com]

I completely agree that Laura Nyro was, and is, shamefully underrated.

I still remember hearing her sing "Eli's Coming" on the radio one late night, and being blown away by the artistry and intensity.

[mac-arthur-park.livejournal.com]

I love her work so much.

[martianmooncrab.livejournal.com]

I had forgotten about here, I had a friend named Laura who thought she was one of the best poets ever. And I think I still have albums by her (and no turntable to play them on)

[anita-margarita.livejournal.com]

I love the little bits of her work I've heard. She is most famous here for writing songs that other people recorded, but her albums didn't sell all that well. I would love to get my hands on her vinyl records.

[thespian15.livejournal.com]

A very lovely voice. :)
Hugs, Jon

[penpusher.livejournal.com]

I wasn't a huge fan of her vocalizing (but I'll bet she would have benefited from a Burt Bacharach or Sergio Mendes handling that element as a producer/arranger), but I was most definitely a fan of her compositions, and their interpretations by the 5th Dimension mainly or by Barbra Streisand occasionally.

[davesmusictank.livejournal.com]

I think she got better as she got older, much like Joni Mitchell did.

[cmcmck.livejournal.com]

I've loved Laura Nyro's work ever since discovering her at uni.