Pop singer/actress Laura Branigan was born on July 3, 1957 in the upstate New York town of Brewster.  It wasn't until she landed a lead role in a school musical during her senior year in high school that Branigan thought of pursuing a musical career. She was accepted at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City in the mid-'70s.  Branigan then signed on as a backing vocalist for Leonard Cohen and toured the world with the renowned singer/songwriter throughout the late '70s. She subsequently landed a recording contract on her own with Atlantic Records.  But a breach-of-contract lawsuit resulted after Branigan changed management, which held up work on her solo debut.  With all legal woes sorted out by the early '80s, Branigan was free to launch her solo career, as her debut, Branigan, was issued in 1982.

The album spawned one of the year's top international pop hits, the Donna Summer-like "Gloria," a remake of an Italian pop song from the '70s.  1983's Branigan 2 spawned another two sizeable U.S. hit singles: "Solitaire" and "How Am I Supposed to Live Without You" (the latter co-written by a then-unknown Michael Bolton).  She also appeared on the hit soundtrack to "Flashdance" that same year with the track "Imagination."

source:  Greg Prato, allmusic.com