New York-based singer-songwriter Christine Spero fell in love with singer-songwriter Laura Nyro’s music when a friend of hers gave her a copy of Nyro’s Eli and the Thirteenth Confession.

A Rock Hall Inductee, Nyro became one of the most covered artists in the 1960s and 1970s with tracks such as “Eli’s Coming,” “Stoned Soul Picnic,” “And When I Die” and “Wedding Bell Blues.”

A couple of years ago, Spero teamed up with drummer Peter O’Brien, bassist Scott Petito and multi-instrumentalist Elliot Spero to form the Christine Spero Group and pay tribute to Nyro. The group has become a sensation and performed at various music festivals. Now, it’s slated to play at 8:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 7, at Nighttown in Cleveland Heights. 

This article appears in Sep 28 – Oct 4, 2016.

Jeff has been covering the Cleveland music scene for more than 25 years now. On a regular basis, he tries to talk to whatever big acts are coming through town. And if you're in a local band that he needs to hear, email him at jniesel@clevescene.com.