Laura Branigan

Biography

Laura Ann Branigan came into the world on July 3, 1952, in Mount Kisco, New York, as the fourth of five kids born to Kathleen (O’Hare) and James Branigan Sr., who worked as an account executive and mutual funds broker before the couple eventually split. Her younger brother, William “Billy” Branigan, was a musician too; he played guitar in her early backing band and later worked on her 1993 album Over My Heart as co-producer, arranger, guitarist, bassist, and backing vocalist, and co-wrote the song “Over You” with her.

Billy died from a heart attack in 2022 at age 65. Laura grew up in Armonk, New York, attended Catholic school in Chappaqua, and graduated from Byram Hills High School in 1970. In 1972 she formed the folk-rock group Meadow, which put out its debut album The Friend Ship a year later. After Meadow split, she served as one of Leonard Cohen’s backup singers during his 1976 European tour.

1981–1990: Mainstream success

Ahmet Ertegun signed her to Atlantic Records in 1979. Her first album, Branigan, came out in 1982; its lead single “All Night with Me” peaked at No. 69 on the Billboard chart, while the follow-up “Gloria”—originally a 1979 European hit by Umberto Tozzi—initially struggled on pop radio but eventually became a massive 1980s hit. The album went gold, and the single sold over two million copies in the U.S., earning platinum status. That success earned her a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance, alongside Linda Ronstadt, Olivia Newton-John, Juice Newton, and winner Melissa Manchester.

Her 1983 follow-up Branigan 2 featured her English version of “Solitaire,” a top-10 U.S. hit, and “How Am I Supposed to Live Without You,” which marked the first major hit for co-writer Michael Bolton. Before her singing career took off, she had acted on West German television; at her peak, she landed roles on CHiPs, Automan, and Knight Rider, and later appeared in films like Mugsy’s Girls (1985) and Backstage. She also performed in national ad campaigns for Dr Pepper, Coca-Cola, and Chrysler, the last of which sponsored her 1985–86 tour.

Legacy

At Byram Hills High School in Armonk, New York, the Laura Branigan Memorial Scholarship is awarded annually to a senior for excellence in the performing arts. The St. Louis Blues NHL team adopted Branigan's version of "Gloria" as its unofficial victory song during an 11-game winning streak in the 2018–19 season, and the song was played when the team won the 2019 Stanley Cup.

Bands Phish and Vampire Weekend, performing in St. Louis the night of Game 7, played "Gloria" after the Blues' victory. The song re-entered the Billboard charts and reached No. 3 on the iTunes singles chart. Forbes termed "Gloria" an "unlikely championship anthem" and noted the Stanley Cup victory could permanently associate the song with the St. Louis Blues and hockey.

Did You Know?

• Branigan's "Gloria" stayed on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 for 36 weeks, then a record for a female artist.
• She was one of Leonard Cohen's backup singers on his 1976 European tour.
• At the time of her death in 2004, her age was reported as 47; the Associated Press issued a correction in 2016.