The 1982 smash hit “Gloria” has found new life, even though the pop singer who made it famous died in 2004.
And friends and family would appreciate it if people stopped trying to book her for gigs.
About a month ago, the St. Louis Blues hockey club started playing “Gloria” in their locker room whenever the then-struggling team won a game. The Blues quickly found themselves on fire, enjoying an 11-game winning streak that ended Thursday night.
According to NHL.com, the new tradition started when a handful of players were in a bar watching a football game and the deejay spun that song during commercial breaks. They decided to make it their own and all of St. Louis is talking about it. After a win Tuesday, the team’s official Twitter page tweeted, “PLAY GLORIA!”
While singer Laura Branigan’s loved ones and bandmates appreciate the trip down memory lane, they could do without the calls and emails they’ve been getting for requests to book the singer for live performances.
Branigan died from a brain aneurysm in her Long Island home nearly 15 years ago.
Kathy Keto Golik, Branigan’s former manager, tried spreading the message on a Facebook page dedicated to her former client.
“Absolutely LOVE this, and it’s getting a LOT of press!” Golik posted along with an explanation of why the platinum -selling artist is in demand after all these years. “Bittersweet part if that some fans and such are unaware of Laura’s passing and have been requesting that she come sing ‘Gloria’ at one of their games or the playoffs… so wish she were her for that, as I know she’d be thrilled.”
Golik’s Other Half Entertainment company hosts an annual “Spirit of Love” memorial event for Branigan on Long Island. Fans who want to hear tales about the “Gloria” singer are invited to this year’s Aug. 16-18 gathering at The Hilton Garden Inn in Islip, L.I.
Branigan’s former boyfriend Tommy Bayiokos, who was the drummer in her band, told the Daily News that a lot of the singer’s fans missed news of the Brewster-born crooner’s sudden death when it happened.
“One out of every two people do not know that she even passed (after) all these years,” said Bayiokos, who is writing a screenplay about Branigan’s meteoric rise.
Bayiokos said “Gloria” makes a resurgence from time to time, particularly when it’s used in movies like 2017’s “I, Tonya.” He isn’t surprised it’s having a moment now.
“Makes perfect sense to me, a winning song, songstress and hockey team,” he said.
While Bayiokos is having fun watching Blues fans celebrate Branigan’s legacy, it hasn’t made him a supporter of the team. He’s a Toronto Maple Leafs fan.
“Gloria” was Branigan’s biggest hit, but not her only one. Her 1984 tune “Self Control” reached number four on the U.S. charts and shot to number one spot in Canada and Germany. Only “Gloria” stayed on the Billboard top 100 for nine straight months.