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."
He also said, just before he died: "I didn't know you're supposed to enjoy eating a ham sandwich".
That struck me with some force. I imagined him, after he knew his hours were numbered, seeing every mundane thing thru the eyes of a man who may never see that thing again.
That observation was very Warren Zevon-ish, somehow.
Great song.
Can we get that on a link too?
This was a girl that, in my opinion, was never allowed by the music industry to reach her potential. With their "help" she wasted her career trying for another "Gloria". A great song and I still remember what I was doing and where I was at the first time I heard it. (Driving down the Newport Freeway heading for the beach with the wife and kids.)
But she was better than that song. In the famous words of Brando - she coulda been a contenda. Not to be. Never to be. What a voice. What a great voice. I'll miss her.
Rest in peace, Laura.
Judgement Day
My mother died from an aneurysm at age 49.
ping -
Sad. My grandma just passed away last week of brain aneurysm and stroke. Seems like I'm hearing about alot of them lately.
Reminds me of that time at the Playboy Mansion when I caught Hef doing something nasty with Dennis Weaver. I shouted
Hey, Hugh! Get off of McCloud!
I predict the percentage of deaths will reach 100% at some point.
I hope I'm not around to see that.
As a dj for weddings etc. in the 1980s I played Gloria many a time. It was great for filling up the dance floor.
Official website appears to confirm.
http://www.laurabranigan.com/Lauras_Passing.htm
You may find this intesting...
Ahttp://www.av1611.org/rockdead.htmlverage Age at Death of Included Rock Stars (1) 36.9 Years
Yes, sad..Please accept my condolences, too. I survived one, myself, at the age of 40. I was one of the lucky ones.
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