Adriana-LaurenÃÂia "Laura" Stoica (10 October 1967 â 9 March 2006) 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.
In 1986, Laura graduates from the "Popular Arts School" in TârgoviÃÂte 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 (with Semnal M and Riff). In 1989, she gets a one-year singing contract at "Toma Caragiu" Theatre in PloieÃÂti.
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 DÃÂ, Doamne, cântec ("Give Us Music, Lord"), a song written by Viorel GavrilÃÂ. Romanian Radio Broadcasting Company awards her the debut prize in 1990. The next year, Laura records Un actor grÃÂbit ("An Actor in a Hurry"), 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 grÃÂbit as a single and then participates at the Golden Stag Festival in BraÃÂov, 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 ("The Fire"), written by her and RÃÂzvan MiricÃÂ.
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 (bass, from Holograf), Eugen MihÃÂescu (guitar, from Krypton), Vlady Cnejevici (keyboards, from Compact and PasÃÂrea Colibri), Florin Ionescu (drums, from DirecÃÂia 5), and Cristian Soleanu (saxophone).
Laura's first album, Focul ("The Fire"), 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 ("...No Star") 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, ÃÂn singurÃÂtate ("In Loneliness"), 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 (guitar), Matei Bulencea 'CÃÂpitanu' and Paul Baciu (bass), Emanuel Gheorghe 'FisÃÂ' and Mihai Coman (keyboards), RÃÂzvan Lupu 'Lapi' (drums), and later, Relu BiÃÂulescu, Andrei BÃÂrbulescu, RÃÂzvan Gorcinski (drums), and Fernando DrÃÂgÃÂnici (keyboards).
In 2000, Stoica completes the recordings for her third album, entitled Vino ("Come"), 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 RÃÂdescu 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 ConstanÃÂa, and at "Toma Caragiu" Theatre in PloieÃÂti. In 2003, she is chosen by Disney to provide Melpomeme's voice in Romanian for the animated series Hercules.
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 ViÃÂteanu (guitar), Emanuel Gheorghe 'FisÃÂ' (keyboards), Victor MiclÃÂuà(bass), and Cristian MÃÂrgescu (drums, who becomes her fiancé). In June 2005, she releases a new album, entitled S-a schimbat ("It Has Changed"), but the disc has only very little media coverage and gains almost no commercial success.
On 9 March 2006, Stoica and her fiancé died 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 TârgoviÃÂte.
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 ConstanÃÂiu (saxophone), Nicu Damalan (guitar, songwriter), Marius BaÃÂu (backing vocals), Adrian Ordean (guitar), RÃÂzvan MiricÃÂ (songwriter), LaurenÃÂiu Cazan (acoustic guitar), Eugen Tegu (bass), Bogdan Cristinoiu (keyboards, songwriter), Cristina Andrei (backing vocals), Bobby Stoica (songwriter), Mihai Godoroja (songwriter). Managers: Aurel Mitran, Sorin Bocerean.