On Tuesday, August 26, 2004, Laura Branigan passed away at the age of 52. The Grammy-nominated singer and songwriter was best known for her 1982 megahit "Gloria", which reached number two on the Billboard pop singles chart and became an international success. Branigan had a fourth-octave vocal range and was admired for her emotive, powerful delivery of both up-tempo material and ballads. Born in 1957 in Brewster, New York, she had a lengthy career that saw her record eight solo albums and appear on various television and movie soundtracks. Branigan was also a member of the rock-pop group Meadow in the late-1970s. She began her solo career in 1982 and released a string of hit singles, including "Self Control," "How Am I Supposed To Live Without You," and "Solitaire". Branigan is survived by her parents, siblings, and her longtime partner.