Beginning
Laura Branigan is daughter of a mutual-funds broker and an account executive. She is one of 5 kids, she has a sister (Susie), and she has 3 brothers (Mark,Billy and James).
Laura was married Lawrence Kruteck since December 1981
(an attorney - died 1997). She supposedly still lives in the New York area.
Branigan had no ambitions to pursue a vocalist's career in her youth.
In high school she was extremely shy, however, she enjoyed singing harmony with friends and performing in her church choir.
To help Branigan overcome her shyness, one of her teachers persuaded her to try out for the school musical in her senior year. Branigan did it, won the lead in Pajama Game, and discovered her calling.
First steps in music
When Laura finished High School, she had the chance to proove her voice recording an album with the "Meadow Band". She led the vocals in three songs of the album "The Friendship" that was almost ignored for American people. Later, she studied at American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
After, Laura Branigan was recruited by singer Leonard Cohen to tour Europe as his backing vocalist. Returning to NYC, Laura concentrated on building a solo repertoire. She decided to become a soloist.
Knowing that her chances would be better if she had a good manager, she sought one, Sid Bernstein, who had managed talents such as the Rascals and the Bay City Rollers and had promoted the Beatles' first U.S. appearance, listened to Branigan singing in 1977 and agreed to help her become a star. According to Sarah Crichton in Harper's, Bernstein started Branigan slowly. At last,, in 1979, Branigan auditioned for Ahmet Ertegun, the chairman of Atlantic Records, and he hired her.
Before recording an album she released some singles like:"Fools Affair" and "Looking Out For Number One".
An initial album session produced mixed results and Atlantic was insecure about the best style suited their new talent.
Career
Atlantic Company hired Jack White, a German producer famous, who selected the songs for Branigan's debut album including "Gloria," which had been a hit in Italy a few years ago. Before this single was released, White introduced Branigan to manager Susan Joseph. After talking to her, the singer became convinced that Joseph could represent her interest much better than Bernstein. Her succesfull career is very well documented with "Branigan", "Branigan 2", "Self Control", "Hold Me" and "Touch" (You will find more info about every album on Discography)
After "Touch", her music career fell in declination, too much than "Laura Branigan" (1990 Album) and "Over My Heart" (1993), did not get relevance in the American Music Businness.
Also Laura Branigan used to make soundtracks to important eigthies films like: "Flashdance", "Ghostbusters", "Body Rock" and "Coming to America". These songs gave to her an important promotion.
Other Activities
Sometimes it is hard to know what situation follows to another. I try to explain the reason because Laura Branigan was acting and modeling.
Her music career was better until Touch Album when precisely she starts to film movies and model. Another Laura Branigan's dream came true when she recorded "Backstage". She was involved years ago in this proyect and she did good, you know, Laura got some experience with her TV appeareances in "Chips", "Automan", "Monsters" and "Mugsy's Girls".
In 1988 she started to model. I guess that Laura Branigan wanted to touch heaven. She deserves it and I'm sure that she has one of the most beautiful face of the world.
With such non-music activities, she felt the need to perfomance in many places like Asia, Europe and Southamerica and to appear in TV Shows around the world. Despite the nineties were not so succesfull as the eigthies, she still continues performing in every corner of the world, that wants to enjoy her voice, her face, her music.