Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

BRANIGAN, Laura

(b 3 July 1952, Mount Kisco NY; d 26 August 2004 of a brain aneurysm) US pop singer. Educated at NY's The American Academy of Dramatic Arts; first break as backing singer for Leonard Cohen '76; club success led to contract with Atlantic. Albums produced by Jack White, beginning with Branigan '82, in charts for a year including the strident no. 1 USA/6 UK hit 'Gloria' (one of the longest-running singles of the decade in USA, Grammy-nominated for best pop vocal): the English translation of a Eurohit by Umberto Tozzi brought a big gay following as part of the Hi-NRG disco movement, aided by Branigan's vocal likeness to Donna Summer. Branigan 2 '83 saw some diversification of material, including the Who's 'Squeeze Box', no. 7 USA hit 'Solitaire', no. 12 'How Am I Supposed To Live Without You'. Third LP Self Control '84 included the hit title track (no. 4 USA/5 UK), another Eurohit cover, this time of RAF (both in German charts, Branigan no. 1, RAF no. 2); backing was cliché-Eurodisco, but an erotic video produced by William (Exorcist) Friedkin aroused interest. The album also included US no. 20 'The Lucky One' (from TV programme An Uncommon Love), and another Tozzi Eurohit from the '70s, 'Ti Amo'. The Friedkin connection led to further collaboration on his film Live And Let Die in Los Angeles; she was also seen on TV's Hill Street Blues, played mud wrestler in Mugsy's Girl, sang theme song for Octopussy; did 'Hot Night' for the Ghostbusters soundtrack. Further albums Hold Me '85, Touch '87, Laura Branigan '90. Her brother said that she complained of a headache but did not seek medical treatment, then died in her sleep.