Remembering Laura Branigan
The 1980’s Pop singer was born on this day in 1952
Remembering Laura Branigan
Laura Branigan was born Laura Ann Branigan on July 3, 1952, in Brewster, New York. She grew up in Armonk, New York, where she developed a passion for singing and performing at an early age. Branigan attended Byram Hills High School and later studied at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
Branigan’s early career began in the late 1970s when she joined Meadow, a band managed by singer and songwriter Walker Daniels. The group released one album, “The Friend Ship,” but disbanded shortly after. Branigan then pursued a solo career, signing with Atlantic Records in 1979. She worked as a backing vocalist for Leonard Cohen, touring with him and gaining valuable experience in the music industry.
Branigan scored several major hits during the 1980’s including her 1982 breakout hit “Gloria,” a cover of the Italian song “Gloria,” originally by Umberto Tozzi. Her powerful vocals and the song’s infectious energy propelled it to No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it stayed for 36 weeks. “Gloria” became an international sensation and earned Branigan a Grammy nomination.
In 1984 she scored another major hit, “Self Control,” which reached No. 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 and topped charts worldwide, and also turned Branigan into a beloved figure in pop music.
Other Branigan’s notable songs include “Solitaire,” “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You,” “The Lucky One,” and “Power of Love.”
Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Branigan continued to release albums and tour extensively, including the albums “Branigan 2” (1983), “Hold Me” (1985), and “Touch” (1987). In the 1990s, she shifted focus to Broadway, starring in the musical “Love, Janis,” based on the life of Janis Joplin.
Laura Branigan married Larry Kruteck, a lawyer, in 1981. The couple shared a deep bond until Kruteck’s death from colon cancer in 1996. Branigan did not remarry and largely withdrew from the public eye after her husband’s passing, although she occasionally performed and recorded new music.
Laura Branigan passed away on August 26, 2004, at the age of 52. She died in her sleep at her home in East Quogue, New York, due to a brain aneurysm. Her untimely death was a significant loss to the music world, but today she lives on through her timeless hits and powerful voice.
Look back at the 1984 music video “Self Control” by Laura Branigan
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