Died On This Date (April 8, 1997) Laura Nyro / Critically Acclaimed Singer-Songwriter
themusicsover Laura Nyro
October 18, 1947 – April 8, 1997
Laura Nyro was not only a well-respected performer, she penned numerous classic songs that became major hits for others. In just a matter of two years, she wrote such hits as “Wedding Bell Blues” (the 5th Dimension), “And When I Die” (Blood, Sweat & Tears), “Eli’s Coming” (Three Dog Night), and “Stoney End” (Barbra Streisand) among others. Nyro spent her career feeling uncomfortable about the celebrity part of pop music so she kept a low profile and retired a couple of times. Nyro passed away from ovarian cancer on April 8, 1997 at the age of 49.
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Scotland born Tam Paton was the manager and main mouthpiece for 70s pop sensations, the Bay City Rollers. Paton helped develop a squeaky clean image for the band by claiming for instance, that the guys preferred milk over alcohol. “Rollermania” exploded around the world thanks to such hits as “Saturday Night” and “Shang-a-lang.” The band fired Paton in 1979 afterwhich he went on to earn millions in real estate. In 2003, Rollers guitarist Pat McGlynn announced that Paton, who was openly gay, raped him while on tour in 1977. The allegations though never doubted were never proven true. Paton was convicted of sex and drug related offenses in later years. He died as a result of an apparent heart attack on April 8, 2009.
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