Branigan's death was the most tragically unexpected -- she had complained of headaches two weeks before, but had not sought out medical attention.
Branigan's hit song "Gloria" -- which, if you confuse it with the Van Morrison/Them version, might mean you might want to get that head problem checked out -- was all over the pop music stratosphere in 1982, despite the best efforts of scientists and faith healers. "Gloria," from her first album, Branigan, has become one of the ultimate disposable 80's pop songs, peaking at #2 in 1982. As a DJ who occasionally plays gay discos, lemme tell ya something golden -- the gay boys love "Gloria".
Ms. Branigan had another Top 10 hit with "Solitaire," from her shockingly-titled second album Branigan 2. That album also contained the first recorded version of "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You," written by Michael Bolton, so I suppose we can blame Branigan in part for his aural terrorist campaign through the 80's and 90's.
Branigan's final Top 10 hit was "Self-Control," from the album of the same name, whose title temporarily puzzled album collectors who had trouble with alphabetization. A few more club hits, a few more minor Top 40 hits, and that was about all for Ms. Branigan. In 2002, she won the best reviews of her career for portraying Janis Joplin in an off-Broadway production.
Cool thing Branigan did: Started off as a backup singer for Leonard Cohen.
D-Roc, born Dennis Miles, is the third member of Body Count to die in the last eight years. There are now only two Body Counters left: lead guitarist Ernie T, and TV actor/Hasselhoff producer Ice-T.
That reminds me -- Laura Branigan recorded a duet with the artist now known as Hassel the Hoff: "I Believe," from the 1994 Baywatch soundtrack. Impress your friends with your trivia wherewithall.
Your Hall Monitor of Death smashes the snooze alarm with a sledgehammer.
