Laura Branigan

Laura Branigan
Background information
Birth name	Laura Ann Branigan
Born	(1952-07-03)July 3, 1952 Mount Kisco, New York, U.S.
Died	August 26, 2004(2004-08-26) (aged 52) East Quogue, New York, U.S.
Genres	Pop dance pop rock
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter actress
Instruments	Vocals piano
Years active	1978–2004
Labels	Atlantic
Website	laurabraniganonline.com

Laura Ann Branigan (July 3, 1952 – August 26, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter and actress. She was best known for her 1982 platinum hit "Gloria". She also starred on several television shows. Branigan's songs were featured in soundtracks for the movies Flashdance and Ghostbusters.

Early life

Branigan was born on July 3, 1952 in Brewster, New York, United States. Her father was an account executive and mutual funds broker. In 1970, she graduated from high school and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.

Career

Branigan toured Europe as a backup singer with Leonard Cohen. She started her solo career in 1982. Her first album, Branigan, was released in 1982. A song "Gloria" from that album stayed on top of the pop charts for 36 weeks. It reached number six on the British pop charts. It was a remake of an Italian song from the 1970s. The song got her a nomination for a Grammy for best female pop singer. She was nominated for three more during her career. She released seven more albums. She co-wrote the song How Am I Supposed To Live Without You? with a then unknown Michael Bolton. In 1981 Branigan appeared on German television in An American Girl in Berlin. She was a guest on the American TV show, CHiPS. She starred in the movie Mugsy's Girls in 1984. She also appeared in the 1988 movie Backstage. In 2002 she starred in the Off-Broadway production of Love, Janis, playing Janis Joplin. She received rave (very good) reviews for her performance.

Personal

In 1981, Branigan met Larry Kruteck, an attorney, at a party in Manhattan. They married that same year, when she was 29 years old and he was 44. In 1994 her husband was diagnosed with colon cancer. She quit singing to take care of him full time. Kruteck died in 1996. In 2001, as she was just returning to singing again, she fell from a ladder at her home and broke both her legs. Branigan was in physical therapy for six months.

On August 26, 2004, Branigan died of a brain aneurysm. She died in her sleep at her home in East Quogue, New York. She was 52 years old.