Laura Nyro American composer, songwriter, singer, pianist Date of Birth: 18.10.1947 Country: USA

1. Laura Nero: Biography of an American Composer and Singer
2. Early Life and Musical Beginnings
3. Rise to Fame
4. Personal Life and Later Years

Laura Nero: Biography of an American Composer and Singer

Laura Nero was an American composer, songwriter, singer, and pianist. Although she gained recognition primarily as a songwriter, her performances showcased her talents as a musician and vocalist. Her most successful creation was the single "Up on the Roof," written for Carol King and Gerry Goffin.

Early Life and Musical Beginnings

Laura Nero, then known as Laura Nigro, was born in Bronx, New York, to Gilda Mirsky Nigro, an accountant, and Louis Nigro, a piano tuner and trumpeter. From a young age, she showed a natural talent for playing the piano and developed a love for reading and poetry. Inspired by her mother's record collection, which included artists like Leontyne Price, Billie Holiday, Ravel, and Debussy, Laura began experimenting with composing at the age of eight.

During her school years, Laura started performing in public with a group of friends, singing in subway stations and on the streets. In 1966, with the help of her father, Laura secured an audition with Artie Mogull, who became her first manager. It was during this time that Laura sold her first song, "And When I Die," to Peter, Paul and Mary for $5,000.

Rise to Fame

At the age of 18, Laura began performing at the "hungry i" coffeehouse in San Francisco. Shortly after, Mogull negotiated a recording contract for her, leading to the release of her debut album, "More Than a New Discovery," under the "Verve Folkways" label.

In 1967, Laura performed at the Monterey Pop Festival, where her performance received conflicting reviews. However, her talent caught the attention of David Geffen, who successfully bought her contract from Mogull. Together with her new manager, Laura formed the company "Tuna Fish Music" and signed a more advantageous recording contract. Her second album, "Eli and the Thirteenth Confession," released by Columbia Records in 1968, received critical acclaim for its depth and complexity. The following year, her album "New York Tendaberry" was also well-received.

Personal Life and Later Years

In 1971, Laura married carpenter David Bianchini. However, she announced her retirement from the music industry at the age of 24, feeling disillusioned by her stardom. Her hiatus and marriage were short-lived. In 1976, after her divorce, Laura made a comeback with the album "Smile". This was followed by a four-month tour, which resulted in the live album "Season of Lights".

In the early 1980s, Laura began a 17-year relationship with artist Maria Desiderio. In 1978, she temporarily retired again after the release of her album "Nested," as she was pregnant at the time. However, she returned in 1984 with the album "Mother's Spiritual". In 1988, Laura embarked on a concert tour to support animal rights.

Laura released her final album, "Walk the Dog and Light the Light," in 1993. In 1996, she was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, which ultimately led to her death on April 8, 1997, in Danbury, Connecticut. Laura Nero was 49 years old at the time of her passing, tragically sharing the same fate as her mother, who also died from ovarian cancer at that age.