Biography for
Laura Branigan More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

3 July 1957, Brewster, New York, USA

Date of Death

26 August 2004, East Quogue, New York, USA (brain aneurysm)

Spouse

Laurence Ross Kruteck

(December 1981 - 15 June 1996) (his death)

Trade Mark

Had an onstage habit of brushing her hair back with one hand, while singing

Many of her hits were English-language remakes of European hit songs, for the American market.

Trivia

She broke both femurs when she fell 10 feet from a ladder whilst hanging wisteria outside her New York State home. [June 2001]

Performed the last song on "New American Bandstand 1965" (1952) with Dick Clark - "Shattered Glass," in 1987.

Had a brother, Billy Branigan, who's a singer, writer and producer. They worked together on Laura's "Over My Heart" album.

Toured Europe as a backing vocalist for Leonard Cohen in the late 70s.

Was originally announced as the singer of the theme for the Bond film, Octopussy (1983), by producer Albert R. Broccoli.

Known mostly for her smash hit songs like "Gloria", "Self-Conrol", "Solitaire", "How am I supposed to Live without You?", "The Lucky One", "The Power of Love", and "Spanish Eddie". She also did international tours, and unique music videos which were filmed in Britain, and other European countries.

Had a unique five-octave range voice.

After she died of a brain aneurysm in her sleep, her brother Marc Branigan said she had complained to a friend of having a continual headache for about two weeks before she died but she had not sought medical attention.

Music video for her single "Spanish Eddie" was a re-telling of West Side Story (1961).

She also performed the ballad "Sin Hablar", along with the worldwide famous Mexican singer Luis Miguel.

She largely left the music industry in 1994 following her husband, Larry Kruteck, being diagnosed with colon cancer. He died in 1996.

Atlantic records signed her in 1979.

Personal Quotes

I want to touch people's hearts, to get right down to their souls.