Posted on 08/28/2004 4:17:28 PM PDT by SamAdams76
Singer Laura Branigan passed away in her sleep on the evening of Thursday, August 26, 2004. Her death was apparently caused by a brain aneurysm.
Laura was only 47 years old, having been born on July 3, 1957 in Brewster, New York.
Laura had 13 charted hits in the Billboard Top 100 spanning the years 1982 to 1990, including five consecutive Top 20 smashes during the mid-1980s.
Those hits were as follows:
Gloria - #2 in July 1982
Solitaire - #7 in March 1983
How Am I Supposed To Live With You - #12 in July 1983 (#1 for three weeks on the Adult Contemporary charts)
Self Control - #4 in April 1984
The Lucky One - #20 in August 1984
Gloria was also backing vocalist with recording artist Leonard Cohen. As well, she guest-starred on the TV show CHiPs and appeared in the 1984 movie Mugsy's Girl.
Laura recently was cast as Janis Joplin in some Broadway play, earning rave reviews. Ironically, Janis Joplin herself died prematurely, but in Janis' case, it was self-inflicted by booze and heroin.
It's like the late Warren Zevon said, "Life will kill ya."
Mick's Dad is still alive and kicking, and he's in his 90s.
It's sad....I usually could care less about a 'celebrity death' but Laura did not espouse her political beliefs....all she did was entertain her fans with her wonderful voice.
RIP, Laura.
Sympathy and condolences on the loss of your wife, DJF.
In 1998 a dear friend died during the surgery to correct her brain aneurysm. The doctors had told her she had a 95% chance of complete recovery with no memory loss. She was also in her early 40s, with no genetic history of aneurysms.
However at that time, medical research conflicted with her doctor's rosey outlook. Surgery to correct brain aneurysms was recommended only in extreme cases.
As I recall, back then death rates from ruptured brain aneurysms was lower than death rates during surgeries done to remove or repair brain aneurysms.
You have a source? I remember a Nancy McKeon hoax a couple months back...
What did Syreeta Wright die of? I didn't even hear about that one...
Sad about Laura Branigan.. my father adored her music..
I'm so sorry to hear about your wife.. hugs.
That's too bad -"Gloria" really rocked for the times back then, anyhow. I thought "Self-Control" sucked although Laura was pretty hot in the somewhat disturbing video.
How is this for odd:
Her song, Gloria, was used in the movie Flashdance.
The female figure skater in that movie skated to Gloria in one of plot points of the film.
The actress who played the skater died of a brain aneurism shortly after the movie was made.
True. But looking at Mick or Keith is even scarrier.
Are you serious...someone started a rumor about my teenage infatuation Jo Polnyachek?
Sick.
She died way too young, but in exactly the manner I'd choose, if possible. She went to sleep and never woke up.
Really? That is too weird.
http://www.laurabranigan.com/Lauras_Passing.htm
[This is also on that page]
"We support our troops and thank you for being so brave, your in our prayers, thoughts, and want you all to come home safe and soon."
She had pipes a'plenty. Good looking, too!
So young. How sad. Prayers for her family.
Syreeta Wright died on July 6 of this year after a two-year struggle with bone cancer (a nasty way to go). As you may well know, Syreeta had a huge hit in 1980 with Billy Preston ("With You I'm Born Again).
I'm Jagger's age. I could still do the stuff I did at 30, but I would need a few days to rest up after 3 days in the ICU. I told my Mom [84] I was getting old and she just gave me that 'look.'
Wow!
Thanks for that.
It really is a great tune.
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