Laura Stoica


Adriana-Laurenția "Laura" Stoica was a Romanian pop rock singer, composer and actress. She is often considered the best female rock vocalist and one of the most important figures of the local Romanian music scene. Between 1990 and 2005, Stoica recorded 4 studio albums, she performed in over 700 shows in her country and abroad, and had over 650 television appearances.

Biography

In 1986, Laura graduates from the "Popular Arts School" in Târgoviște with a degree in classic canto. Laura debuts as a singer in 1987 at the Youth Trophy Festival in Amara, where she wins the second place for solo singing. Afterwards, she participates at most of the major new-talent contests held in Romania and has her first tour. In 1989, she gets a one-year singing contract at "Toma Caragiu" Theatre in Ploiești.
Laura Stoica becomes famous in Romania after winning the great trophy and the first place for solo singing in 1990 at the Mamaia Festival, with Dă, Doamne, cântec, a song written by Viorel Gavrilă. Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company awards her the debut prize in 1990. The next year, Laura records Un actor grăbit, written by Bogdan Cristinoiu, which becomes the Romanian song of the year and Laura wins the award for the best female pop voice of 1991. In 1992, Laura releases Un actor grăbit as a single and then participates at the Golden Stag Festival in Brașov, where she wins the first prize in the discography section and the third prize for live singing. During the festival, she also releases her next major hit, Focul, written by her and Răzvan Mirică.
In 1993, Laura Stoica Band is established, to support Laura in live concerts, tours, and television shows. The first line-up includes some of the most experienced Romanian pop and rock musicians: Iulian Vrabete, Eugen Mihăescu, Vlady Cnejevici, Florin Ionescu, and Cristian Soleanu.
Laura's first album, Focul, is released in 1994. Most of the songs from this album become major hits in Romania and have been included in many compilations since then. In the same year, she is considered the sexiest female pop singer in Romania, according to "Pop, Rock & Show" magazine. During this period, Laura succeeds to be the first woman in her native country regarded as a modern rock performer, combining her vocal abilities with her rebel attitude and looks. In 1994, 1995, and 1996, she enters the competition for song-writing at the Mamaia Festival.
Her second album, ...Nici o stea is released in February 1997. Some of the songs from the new album have become well known in Romania. Afterwards, Laura wins the best female voice prize at Malta Song Festival in Malta, and the third place with her own song, În singurătate, at the Mamaia Festival. In the same year, she enters the discography contest at the Golden Stag Festival with ...Nici o stea. Stoica's album is awarded the second place.
In 1998, Laura tours in Israel and participates at the Pamukkale Festival in Turkey, where she gets the jury prize. She is the best female rock vocalist of the year, according to "Bravo Romania". Laura Stoica Band has some new line-ups, which include: Remus Carteleanu, Matei Bulencea 'Căpitanu' and Paul Baciu, Emanuel Gheorghe 'Fisă' and Mihai Coman, Răzvan Lupu 'Lapi', and later, Relu Bițulescu, Andrei Bărbulescu, Răzvan Gorcinski, and Fernando Drăgănici.
In 2000, Stoica completes the recordings for her third album, entitled Vino, but she doesn't manage to release it, due to her dropping in popularity. Vino is officially released nine years later.
In 2000, Laura graduates the "Ecological University of Bucharest" with a degree in drama. Constantin Codrescu, Vlad Rădescu and Doru Ana are her teachers during the last two years of studying. As an actress, she performs at Nottara and Odeon Theatre in Bucharest, at the National Opera Theater in Constanța, and at "Toma Caragiu" Theatre in Ploiești.
After some minor tours and concerts in the United States of America, Stoica returns to her native country and, in 2004, she plans a comeback on the local music scene. She establishes a brand new line-up for her band: Adrian Vișteanu, Emanuel Gheorghe 'Fisă', Victor Miclăuș, and Cristian Mărgescu. In June 2005, she releases a new album, entitled S-a schimbat, but the disc has only very little media coverage and gains almost no commercial success.
On 9 March 2006, Stoica and her fiancé lost their lives in a car accident near Urziceni. She was pregnant at the time. She is buried at Bellu Cemetery in Bucharest.
In the following years, the albums ...Nici o stea and Focul were reissued by the record label Roton. In 2009, Vino was published posthumously by the same label. Also, some compilation albums with her songs were released. A national music festival dedicated to Laura Stoica takes place every year in Târgoviște.

Laura Stoica Band

The band was created in 1993 to support Laura Stoica in live concerts, tours, and television shows. It included some 20 rock, pop or jazz musicians:
Session musicians and other collaborators: Alin Constanțiu, Nicu Damalan, Marius Bațu, Adrian Ordean, Răzvan Mirică, Laurențiu Cazan, Eugen Tegu, Bogdan Cristinoiu, Cristina Andrei, Bobby Stoica, Mihai Godoroja. Managers: Aurel Mitran, Sorin Bocerean.

Discography