Adriana-Laurenția "Laura" Stoica (10 October 1967 – 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. 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 (with Semnal M and Riff). 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 ("Give Us Music, Lord"), 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 ("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 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 ("The Fire"), 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 (bass, from Holograf), Eugen Mihăescu (guitar, from Krypton), Vlady Cnejevici (keyboards, from Compact and Pasărea Colibri), Florin Ionescu (drums, from Direcția 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