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October 18, 1947 – April 8, 1997
Dearest Laura:
It’s been a long while since I’ve written, eleven years to be precise. And I have missed you. I wrote to you after you died. They are painful things, those letters, too painful for me to re-read even still. Maybe now, this letter will be better.
There are so many memories that time and distance haven’t dulled, memories as fresh as the moments that they happened. I know your speaking voice, the birth of your smiles, the gesture of your hands, precisely how your hands looked and moved. In your voice I can hear your amusement, interest, anger, hope, sorrow, and everything else that there ever was. I know how you sounded when you coughed, or giggled, or laughed, or cried. My ears remember as do my eyes and heart.
Do you recall the time when, sitting by the frog pond, you were sunbathing? You had on a red sundress, off the shoulder, your hair fixed up off your shoulders and you were fanning yourself with that lovely white & red silk fan? It was when, June, maybe July? And how long was it, twenty minutes? Ten? that your white skin turned crimson & there were freckles? Was that the only time you “took the sun”? Quite possibly.
And remember the barbecues on the little hibachi by the side of the main house? Summer again, early evenings when the sun was low in the sky. Hamburgers, coca colas & cut up watermelon. Delicious. You did that quite often, at least in the early days. Sweet, simple food served with a side of great conversation.
Then the early morning photo shoot at the beach? We arrived at the shore before first light. You were wearing blue jeans, the only time I ever saw you in any kind of slacks. We had both been on my world-famous fish and salad diet (with a rice cake & honey just before bedtime for a sweet treat), and you were sleek, had a long and lean look, nearly gaunt but oh-so-beautiful. Remember? The photos, I still have a few, tell it all. The pictures have a gray/blue cast from the heavy mists that would evaporate as the sun emerged from the sea for yet one more day. What I’d give for that one more day……
I know how you woke your voice up in the early morning: a tiny cup of coffee (or Pero, depending) set on the black baby grand. The fingers moved across the keys not so fast, they were waking up too. And then you would sing a little, then again, and a little more. Pretty soon, voice & fingers were wide awake & working beautifully. For what, a half hour, maybe an hour I, the reader on the sofa, would be privy to the voice of an angel in the early morning. Imagine. Then and only then would the day really begin. My best-favorite times were whenever the wind outside was wild, blowing those gorgeous white pines just beyond the windows around you and your piano rhythmically and joyfully.
Darling Laura-Li I could go on and on but I can’t. We’ve got a brand-new puppy, Buddy is his name, and you would love him to pieces. I’ve got to “walk the dog & light the lite” as you well know.
Until the next time (and I promise it won’t take so long!), please just know that I love you and be well.
It is with the greatest pleasure that I tell you “Season of Lights” has been re-released, re-mastered from the original recordings, by ICONOCLASSIC RECORDS, in August.
For more information, click on the Iconoclassic Records link below:
Wonderful news!! "Nested" is re-released, and worth the wait. See below.
NESTED IS FINALLY BEING RELEASED ON CD!
Laura Nyro is arguably the single most important female songwriter of the latter half of the 20th century. We, at Iconoclassic Records, have always felt that Laura’s brilliant later recordings have been under-valued and misunderstood to a large degree. In an attempt to begin a reassessment of this later work we have chosen Laura’s eighth album, Nested as the inaugural release for our label. This is an important collection of songs that is seen as the fulcrum on which her early and later career pivoted.
Nested sales have done wonderfully and the CD will enjoy an extended release starting Aug 12, 2008. This most personal and moving work has been mastered for CD release by Grammy-winning engineer Vic Anesini. All the original artwork from the LP has been faithfully recreated and an essay by Laura biographer, Michele Kort has been added to the release. We are honored and very proud to make this classic work our first release. We are also scheduling the complete version of Season of Lights for compact disc release later in 2008. Please click on either of the links below to order "Nested".
In 2008 fundraising will begin for the filming of “December’s Boudoir”, the cinematic work of Laura’s life and music. Maria Florio of Earthworks (website address) and I are eager to roll up our sleeves to create this visual homage to Laura Nyro, an American musical icon and human being second to none.
Still Available are the songbook, "Time & Love: the Art and Soul of Laura Nyro (item # 02500425) and "Laura Nyro: Lyrics & Reminiscences" (item # 02500567). Both from Hal.Leonard at 1.800.637.2852.
Also available is the biography by Michele Kort entitled "Soul Picnic, the Music and Passion of Laura Nyro".
For your pleasure, here is "And When I Die" released in 2000 on the "live from mountain stage"
The authorized Laura Nyro Web Site
All rights reserved. All media on the Laura Nyro web site is posted with the expressed permission of the various copyright holders. This includes, but is not limited to photographs, lyrics, sound files, and biographical material. This material may not, in whole or part, be copied, reproduced, photocopied, translated, recorded, or reduced to any electronic medium, machine readable format or mechanical means without the express consent, in writing, from the specific lawful copyright holders. March, 2003