Biography of Laura Branigan: from the early years to the stunning success with "Self Control" and the very sunset of life
Laura Branigan was a songwriter and performer, as well as a talented actress. It was she who gave the compositions "Self Control" Italian singer Raf gave a second life by releasing it as a single and making it a worldwide hit that is still popular today! Synth dance-pop and groundbreaking music videos have taken her singles from high-pitched "Gloria" to the sultry "Self Control" and beyond - and albums to the top of the charts, and made Branigan a big star! Her place in pop culture was so great that several of her songs were chosen for the soundtracks of a couple of the most iconic films of the decade - "Flashdance" and "Ghostbusters"! Five of her singles reached the top of the Hot 100, while the singer's six albums entered the Top 200 ... She continued to work in theater and cinema, as well as record with other artists until her death: Laura Branigan died due to an aneurysm of the cerebral vessels brain in 2004 year, however - the fascinating story of her life and formation continues to live ...
Early years and first steps
Laura Branigan born in July 1952 years upstate New York. The girl grew up as a completely ordinary child, and only in high school did she decide to pursue a musical career after she got the lead role in the school musical ...
towards the middle 70s Branigan entered the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York, and in the second half of the decade she auditioned for the role of a backing vocalist ... Leonard Cohen! With him, in fact, Laura spent the rest of the decade traveling the world ... In the end, the girl signed a contract with a record company Atlantic, shortly after that, work began on her debut album ... However, it turned out, alas, to be short-lived ...
The album was put on hold due to a breach of contract, causing Laura to change management. Yes, to the beginning 1981 years, all problems were solved, and in 1982 year Branigan loudly announced herself with the eponymous record Branigan!
Debut album and first success
Album Branigan spawned one of the best pop hits of the year, similar in its sound to Donna Summer: we are, of course, talking about the song "Gloria"! Remake of an Italian pop song 70s ranked sixth in the UK and second in the US (this was also the first of four subsequent nominations Branigan Grammy Award for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance!
Very quickly, the popularity of the song reached enormous proportions in other parts of the world, especially in Germany, where "Gloria" took first place and sparked renewed interest in the original Italian version, which reached second place...
Released a year later, Branigan 2 spawned two more US hit singles: "Solitaire" and "How Am I Suppought to Live Without You" (the latter was co-authored with Michael Bolton)!
The main stages of creativity
In 1984 year, the studio album Self Control is released! He also gave rise to the hit of the same name, which does not cease to be popular to this day! Remarkably, but the composition "Self Control" is a cover of the song of the same name by the Italian singer Rafa…
During the remainder 80's Branigan albums were released Hold Me (1985) and Touch (1987)that spawned hit singles: "Spanish Eddie", "I Found Someone", "Hold Me", "Shattered Glass" and others…
Back to top 90s inspiration left the singer: the hits dried up abruptly, and albums such as the release of the same name 1990 of the year and her latest album Over My Heart 1993 years passed almost imperceptibly ... Over the years, Branigan sang less and played more in television series. She received positive reviews for her performance as Janis Joplin in the Broadway musical. "Love, Janis".
Personal life and last years of life
Closer to the middle 90s in life Branigan a black streak has come: her husband Larry Kruteka diagnosed with colon cancer ... The singer flatly refused to accept the terrible prognosis of doctors and left music to take care of the man she loved ... She treated Larry with herbs, and when his condition worsened, she looked after him on an ongoing basis. Unfortunately, he soon passed away: this happened June 15, 1996 in New York…
Branigan returned to the stage only in 2002 year, having released a collection of hits the year before called The Essentials, which included an old and familiar composition "I Found Someone":
Alas, but August 26, 2004 Laura Branigan passed away: the actress suffered a brain aneurysm and died in her sleep...
Influence and memory
Voice Laura Branigan - strong and penetrating - continues to sound a distinct echo in the minds of listeners to this day ... "I want to touch the hearts of people, penetrate directly into their souls," she once said. It seems that she managed to fulfill her plan ... She continues to delight listeners even today, when she is no longer with us! And this is wonderful ... And the most beautiful, and probably the main thing, is that in addition to an amazing voice and charisma, Branigan had a persistent and caring spirit! Whether it's speaking for various charities, helping to provide for a South African orphanage, or getting involved in the fight for AIDS awareness...
Despite how much money she had, she always remained a person with a capital letter. She also had a rather wicked sense of humor! The singer loved to play pranks on the unsuspecting ... Despite her fame, in her heart Laura Branigan remained the same shy village girl ...
