Laura Nyro, songwriter

Laura Nyro (born Laura Nigro) (October 18, 1947 – April 8, 1997) was an American composer, lyricist, singer, and pianist. Her style was a hybrid of Brill Building-style New York pop, jazz, gospel, rhythm and blues, show tunes and rock.

She was best known, and enjoyed her most commercial success, as a composer and lyricist rather than as a performer. Between 1968 and 1970 a number of other singers had significant hits with her songs: The 5th Dimension with "Blowing Away", "Wedding Bell Blues", "Stoned Soul Picnic", "Sweet Blindness", "Save The Country" and "Black Patch"; Blood, Sweat & Tears and Peter, Paul & Mary with "And When I Die"; Three Dog Night with "Eli's Coming"; and Barbra Streisand with "Stoney End", "Time and Love", and "Hands off the Man (Flim Flam Man)". Nyro's best-selling single was her recording of Carole King and Gerry Goffin's "Up on the Roof."



"Stoned Soul Picnic"
Performed by The Fifth Dimension
Words and Music by Laura Nyro


"And When I Die"
Performed by Blood, Sweat, & Tears
Words & Muisc by Laura Nyro


"Wedding Bell Blues"
Performed by The Fifth Dimension
Words and Music by Laura Nyro



"Up On The Roof"
Performed by Laura Nyro
Words and Music by Goffin & King

Tom Paxton, songwriter

Thomas Richard Paxton (born October 31, 1937) is an American folk singer and singer-songwriter who has been writing, performing and recording music for over forty years. In 2009, Paxton received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award.


"Bottle of Wine"
Performed by The Fireballs
Words and Music By Tom Paxton


Performed by the Rovers
Words and Music by Tom Paxton


Performed by Dolly Parton & Porter Wagoner
Words and Music by Tom Paxton