Laura Nyro is an American singer and songwriter. Born October 18, 1947, she was best known, and had the most commercial success, as a songwriter rather than a performer. Her most well-known songs include "When I Die" (made a hit by Blood, Sweat & Tears), "Stoney End", (covered by Barbra Streisand), "Wedding Bell Blues" (covered by Fifth Dimension), and "Eli's Coming" (a hit for Three Dog Night).
Possibly frustrated by her lack of commercial success, Nyro announced her retirement from the music business at the age of 24. Five years later, however, she returned with the album Smile a jazzy, laid-back album. After 1978, she would continue to relase albums at the rate of about once every five years. None of these works ever became major hits.
Nyro died of ovarian cancer on April 8, 1997.
