For Rock Hall’s Consideration: Laura Nyro

                In 2010, Laura Nyro received a second nomination into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

                Unfortunately, she didn’t make the cut this year.  Perhaps it was probably uncertain whether she could be inducted as a performer or a non-performer. As a recording artist, Nyro has been a critical favorite since debuting in 1967. She was one of the few artists in the 1960s writing his or her own songs. But despite the critical accolades, she never scored a top forty single or a top twenty album. In fact, Nyro only made the album top 40 once with 1969’s New York Tendaberry. On the singles charts, she only got as high as number 92 (with her cover of the Drifters’ “Up on the Roof”).

                So what could make Nyro a candidate for induction as a non-performer? Well although she has released albums of her own, her greatest success came as a songwriter. In fact, many artists would score hits with covers of her songs. They include Barbra Streisand (Stoney End), Blood, Sweat, and Tears (And When I Die), and the Fifth Dimension (Wedding Bell Blues).

                But whether as a singer or songwriter, Nyro has influenced countless artists including Todd Rundgren, Phoebe Snow, and Steely Dan. Some artists even had the opportunity to collaborate with her, most notably Patti LaBelle. And after her 1997 passing, her legacy has grown. Some of her albums have been remastered (including Eli and the Thirteenth Confession), a biography about her life has been published, and now she has been recognized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame for her musical contributions with two nominations. Hopefully soon, the nominations will turn into an induction and the world would soon see how much of an inspiration she really was.

Rock and Roll Hall of Fame: Laura Nyro eligible since 1992.