ARTIST · POP / ROCK

Laura Branigan

Brass-powered belter—Euro-disco drama with Broadway-level vocal commitment.

Pop
Dance-pop

Updated 27 October 2026

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Biography

Gloria and Self Control soundtracked 80s nightlife with widescreen synth rock.

Branigan's voice soared over productions built for roller rink grandeur.

Deep cuts show interpretive range beyond iconic singles.

Remastered audio keeps Linn snap, horn stabs, and belt resonance.

Branigan moved to New York and sang backing vocals for Leonard Cohen before signing to Atlantic. Gloria, an English-language version of an Italian song by Umberto Tozzi, brought her an international hit in 1982, and Solitaire and How Am I Supposed to Live Without You followed.

Self Control (1984) became her signature, with its pulsing synthesizers and dramatic delivery. She died of a brain aneurysm in 2004.

Interesting facts about Laura Branigan

01 American singer born in Mount Kisco, New York.
02 Gloria (1982) reached number two on the US Billboard Hot 100.
03 Grammy-nominated for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance during her peak years.
04 Gloria was an English-language version of an Italian song by Umberto Tozzi.
05 She sang backing vocals for Leonard Cohen early in her career.