Laura Branigan
Laura Branigan | |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Laura Ann Branigan |
| Born | July 3, 1952 Mount Kisco, New York, U.S. |
| Died | August 26, 2004 (aged 52) East Quogue, New York, U.S. |
| Genres | |
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| Years active | 1978–2004 |
| Labels | Atlantic |
| Website | laurabraniganonline |
Laura Ann Branigan (July 3, 1952[1] – August 26, 2004[2][3]) was an American singer, songwriter and actress.
Overview
[change | change source]Branigan 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.[4]
Early life
[change | change source]Branigan was born on July 3, 1952 in Mount Kisco, New York, United States.[5] Her father was an account executive[clarification needed] and mutual funds broker.[6] In 1970, she graduated from high school and attended the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City (NYC).[6][7]
Career
[change | change source]Branigan toured Europe as a backup singer with Leonard Cohen.[5] She started her solo career in 1982. Her first album, Branigan, was released in 1982.[8] A song Gloria from that album stayed on top of the pop charts for 36 weeks.[9] It reached number six on the British pop charts. It was a remake of an Italian song from the 1970s.[10] The song got her a nomination for a Grammy for best female pop singer.[9] She was nominated for three more during her career.[9]
She released seven more albums.[2] She co-wrote the song How Am I Supposed To Live Without You? with a then unknown Michael Bolton.[10] In 1981, Branigan appeared on German television in An American Girl in Berlin.[7] She was a guest on the American TV show CHiPS.[8]
She starred in the movie Mugsy's Girls in 1984.[7] She also appeared in the 1988 movie Backstage.[8] In 2002, she starred in the Off-Broadway[clarification needed] production of Love, Janis, playing Janis Joplin.[8] She received rave (very good) reviews for her performance.[9]
Personal
[change | change source]In 1981, Branigan met Larry Kruteck, an attorney, at a party in Manhattan.[11] They married that same year, when she was 29 years old and he was 44.[11] In 1994 her husband was diagnosed with colon cancer. She quit singing to take care of him full time. Kruteck died in 1996.[11]
Health decline
[change | change source]In 2001, as she was just returning to singing again, she fell from a ladder at her home and broke both her legs.[11] Branigan was in physical therapy for six months.[11]
Death
[change | change source]On August 26, 2004, Branigan died of a brain aneurysm. She died in her sleep at her home in East Quogue, New York.[10] She was 52 years old.[1][12][13]
References
[change | change source]- 1 2 "Laura Branigan, American singer". Encyclopædia Britannica. 18 October 2016. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- 1 2 "Laura Branigan, 47, Singer Of the Disco Hit 'Gloria'". Obituaries. The New York Times. 30 August 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- ↑ "Obituary: Laura Branigan," Daily Post (Liverpool, England), September 1, 2004 Archived 2016-03-19 at the Wayback Machine
- ↑ Staff and Wire reports (30 August 2004). "Laura Branigan, 47; Grammy Nominee for 1982 Hit Song 'Gloria'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- 1 2 "Laura Branigan". The Telegraph. 30 August 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- 1 2 "Laura Branigan Biography". Musician Guide/ Net Industries. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Laura Branigan", Contemporary Musicians Vol. 2 (Detroit: Gale, 1989) Biography in Context, Web. 22 August 2015
- 1 2 3 4 Greg Prato. "Artist Biography". AllMusic. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 Associated Press (30 August 2004). "Singer Laura Branigan Dies At 47". Billboard. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- 1 2 3 "Singer Laura Branigan dies at 47". BBC News. 29 August 2004. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
- 1 2 3 4 5 Susan Horsburgh (6 May 2002). "Facing the Music". People Magazine/Time Inc. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
- ↑ "Singer Laura Branigan dies at age 47". United Press International, Inc. 29 August 2004. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
- ↑ Dave Laing (31 August 2004). "Laura Branigan". Guardian News and Media Limited. Retrieved 21 August 2015.
