Top 40 Star Dies of Brain Aneurysm

Pop singer Laura Branigan, whose soaring soprano commandeered such 1980's hits as "Gloria," "Self Control" and "Solitaire," has died at age 47.

The cause of death was a brain aneurysm. Branigan died in her sleep at her home in East Quogue, N.Y.

After touring Europe as a backup vocalist for Leonard Cohen, Branigan was signed to Atlantic Records in 1982. Her second single release, "Gloria," an English version of a 1979 Italian pop hit, peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100, and garnered her the first of four Grammy nominations.

In all, Branigan scored seven hits at top 40 radio, including the power ballad, "How Am I Supposed To Live without You," co-written by a then-unknown Michael Bolton. That song also hit No. 1 on the AC charts. Aside from "Gloria," her biggest hits were the No. 4 "Self Control" in 1984 and "Solitaire," a No. 7 hit in 1983.

Eleven of Branigan's singles scored on the AC charts; eight were hits on the Hot Dance/Club Play chart. In total, she released seven albums, all on Atlantic.

Branigan also dabbled in acting, including guest spots on "CHiPS" and in the films "Mugsy's Girls," "Backstage" and Delta Pi." She earned respectable reviews playing Janis Joplin in the New York stage musical, "Love, Janis," in 2002.

The singer devoted a significant portion of the past decade caring for her ill husband, Lawrence Kruteck, who died in 1996.

Branigan had reportedly been working on material for a new album for some time. In 2002, she independently released a club cover of ABBA's "The Winner Takes It All."