Laura Branigan / Unique Personal Items from Estate of the Late Pop Singer

Hey, folks ---

Steve suggested that I throw this one out to the crowd: I'm downsizing my entire life considerably and an contemplating selling off my sizable autograph collection. In addition to hundreds of signed photos and some cool memorabilia, I also have a unique lot of items that belonged to the late GLORIA and SELF CONTROL singer, Laura Branigan. She passed away back in 2004 of a brain aneurysm here on Long Island in her late 40's.

In any event, was a huge fan and attended two estate auctions commissioned by her family (from whom she reportedly was estranged). They sold off, literally, everything related to her career and personal life.

Among the one-of-a-kind items in my possession are her actual wedding album, her original marriage certificate (with an interedting change to her birthdate made with typewriter correction tape that the savvy eye can spot --- long rumored to be older than her record label purported), numberous unreleased 4x6 photos from her SELF CONTROL album shoot, a series of slides for photos that have never to my knowledge been published anywhere, a framed original wedding invitation, several sheets of photo proofs, hadwritten song lyrics, and a few other goodies. Collectively, I paid a little over $15k for everything when I add it all up, but I'm willing to go as low as $10k considering the fees I'd pay if I list this stuff on an auction site. I really want this memorabilia to go to someone who will appreciate its one-of-a-kind historical value in pop music.

Any suggestions from the group on how best to go about selling off the entire lot? I've tried her websites (both run by former managers who don't seem the least bit interested unless there is something in it for them. The thought of putting this all up on eBay seems so disrepectful to her memory and, as I stated, the fees are crazy.

Thanks in advance.

2 members like this

▶ Reply to This

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tiia Santavirta on August 9, 2011 at 8:12am

Oh, I love Laura Branigan, but would never have chance to buy that collection even I would love to. Hope it goes to someone, who is more fan than a collector.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MICHAEL THOMAS REED on October 13, 2011 at 7:42pm

I am intersted in buying some of your Items I was at the auction and bought Mostly Coustumes,and Clothes....contact me at HOLLYWOODBOY63@YAHOO.COM.Thanks..MICHAEK

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by MICHAEL THOMAS REED on February 17, 2012 at 11:44am

Have you sold your Laura Branigan items yet? I just bought 15 things as a lot on EBAY for $350.00.......if intersted in still selling contact: HOLLYWOODBOY63@YAHOO.COM

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Danny Echi on August 7, 2012 at 9:34pm

I am seriously interested in the whole LB LOT. Please contact me. - Danny Echi

https://www.facebook.com/?ref=logo#!/pages/DJ-DANNY-ECHI-s-Laura-Br...

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vince Liaguno on August 8, 2012 at 5:20am

Hi, Danny.

Contact me directly at vliaguno@aol.com and we can discuss. The entire collection is still available, although I'm in contact with someone looking at the wedding album and unreleased SELF CONTROL photo shoot pics. My preference, though, is to sell the entire collection to a genuine fan of Branigan's. Plus, I'm noting that you're located in NYC, which is where I am as well (at least on weekends), so proximity will save on shipping and insurance, etcetera.

Also, feel free to friend me on Facebook: www.facebook.com/vince.liaguno

Looking forward to speaking with you.

▶ Reply

Permalink Reply by Vince Liaguno on August 15, 2012 at 5:02pm

Addendum: There are several items from my own personal collection that I'm just going to throw in if someone is interested. Here are some details about the collection:

1 framed wedding invitation to Laura's wedding to Lawrence Kruteck (12-10-78)

1 actual wedding album, which is inscribed on the front with the words "Our Wedding" and then, at the bottom "Laura and Larry". The album is beige, and the interior slots are very old and not useable.

30 actual photographs from Laura and Larry's wedding, including shots of their kiss, Laura singing at the reception, Larry feeding Laura the cake, Laura throwing the bouquet, Laura and Larry dancing, assorted wedding guests, and a shot of Laura and Larry leaving the wedding in a carriage.

1 original New York marriage certificate between Laurence Ross Kruteck and Laura Ann Branigan, issued 4-12-79. The certificate was torn (by Laura??) at some point and taped back together. It is totally legible, and you can even see that someone (Laura, her management??) took great pains to play around with some typewriter correction tape and changed the "4" in 1954 (rumored to be her REAL year of birth) to a "7", making it 1957 (the year of birth listed in official biographies. This is possible PROOF that the date is wrong).

1 rare VHS video of Laura in concert at Caesars in Lake Tahoe, NY.

1 photo album with 48 color photos from the photo shoot for Laura's SELF CONTROL album. These are super-rare and have never been published anywhere.

28 full-color slides of photos from a shoot Laura did with photographer David Tan. Photos are of Laura with long hair in a white shirt and a tie (in some). And, because they are slides, the photos can be reproduced (and probably sold on eBay and elsewhere).

1 catalog from the encore estate auction, which was held on Saturday, 3-05-05. The catalog has listings and color photos of every item sold at that auction. It's 43 pages long.

3 pages of handwritten lyrics to Laura's last recording, the Eva Cassidy song "I Know You By Heart". These are handwritten by Laura on Suncoast Casino stationery.

9 - 8x10 photos of Laura (5 color, 4 black & white). Included is one super-rare B&W photo of a younger Laura taken by famed photographer Jack Vartoogian and used in PEOPLE in 1983.

1 - 5x7 photo (black & white) of Laura taken backstage at the 1985 American Music Awards in Santa Monica by photographer Janet Gouch. Laura is in a beautiful black dress and playfully eating what looks like a slice of apple or cheese. Again, super-rare.

1 - 8x10 black and white promo photo of Laura. It is autographed "With [picture of heart] + xxoo, Love, Laura Branigan".

12 proof sheets for a big photo shoot that Laura did around the time of her Greatest Hits. These photos have NEVER BEEN SEEN and are gorgeous! Each proof sheet has 15 different black & white shots. These alone are worth the collection. Although not negatives, they could certainly be scanned and blown-up.