Laura Branigan

Laura Branigan had a series of charting pop hits in the 1980s, including “Imagination,” which was featured on the Flashdance movie soundtrack.

After completing her schooling at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, she found a job as a backing singer for Leonard Cohen. The association led to a contract of her own and her first album Branigan was released in 1982. The album resulted in the chart-topping “Gloria”. It was the first of several chart-topping records and singles for Branigan. Throughout the 80s her albums hit the charts but by the 90s it was over.

She returned to the public eye in 2002 when her portrayal of Janis Joplin in Love, Janis won critical acclaim. Unfortunately her return was cut short when, in 2004, she died in her sleep as a result of a brain aneurysm.