Laura Nyro (October 18, 1947 – April 8, 1997) was an American songwriter, singer, and pianist. She achieved critical acclaim with her own recordings, particularly the albums
Eli and the Thirteenth Confession (1968) and
New York Tendaberry (1969), and had commercial success with artists such as
Barbra Streisand and
The 5th Dimension recording her songs. Her style was a hybrid of
Brill Building-style New York pop,
jazz,
gospel,
rhythm and blues,
show tunes, rock, and
soul.