Branigan's maternal grandparents were William O'Hare, Jr. (1914–1984), an account executive and mutual funds broker they later separated. She died at her home in 2004 from a previously-undiagnosed cerebral aneurysm.īranigan was born in the village of Brewster, New York, fourth of five children of Kathleen O'Hare Branigan (1921–2006) and James Branigan, Sr. In 1985, she won the Tokyo Music Festival with the song "The Lucky One". She also contributed songs to motion picture and television soundtracks, including the Grammy and Academy Award-winning Flashdance soundtrack (1983), and the Ghostbusters soundtrack (1984). Her most successful album was 1984's platinum-selling Self Control. AC chart number one "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (1983), the Australian number two hit "Ti Amo (1984), and "The Power of Love" (1987). number four hit "Self Control".īranigan's other singles included the top ten hit "Solitaire" (1983), the U.S. In 1984, she reached number one in Canada and Germany with the U.S. It also reached number one in Australia and Canada. Billboard Hot 100 for 36 weeks, then a record for a female artist, peaking at number two. Her signature song, the platinum-certified 1982 single "Gloria", stayed on the U.S. Laura Ann Branigan (J – August 26, 2004) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress.