*TMZ is reporting that legendary singer Donna Summer, known as the Queen of Disco, died this morning following a battle with cancer. She was 63.
Summer was in Florida at the time of her death, according to the website. She was reportedly trying to keep the extent of her illness out of the press and had been focused on trying to finish a new album.
Summer was a five-time Grammy winner who shot to superstardom in the ’70s with iconic hits like “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls.”
Summer married Brooklyn Dreams singer Bruce Sudano back in 1980. They had two daughters together.
From Wikipedia:
Donna Summer was born on New Year’s Eve 1948 in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, she was one of seven children raised by devout Christian parents. Influenced by Mahalia Jackson, Summer began singing in the church at a young age. In her teens, she formed several musical groups including one with her sister and a cousin, imitating Motown girl groups such as The Supremes and Martha and the Vandellas in Boston.
In the late 1960s, Summer was influenced by Janis Joplin after listening to her albums as member of Big Brother and the Holding Company, and joined the psychedelic rock group the Crow as lead singer. Beforehand, Summer dropped out of school convinced that music was her way out of Boston, where she had always felt herself to be an outsider, even among her own family who ridiculed her for her voice and her looks. The group was short-lived, as they split upon their arrival in New York. In 1968, Summer auditioned for a role in the Broadway musical, Hair. She lost the part of Sheila to Melba Moore. When the musical moved to Europe, Summer was offered the role. She took it and moved to Germany for several years. While in Germany, where she learned to speak German fluently, she participated in the musicals “Ich Bin Ich, the German version of The Me Nobody Knows,“Godspell and Show Boat. After settling in Munich, she began performing in several ensembles including the Viennese Folk Opera and also sang as a member of the pop group FamilyTree (created by the German music producer Guenter “Yogi” Lauke). She came to the group in 1973 and toured with the group throughout Europe.[citation needed]
She also sang as a studio session singer and in theaters. In 1971, while still using her birth name Donna Gaines, she released her first single, a cover of “Sally Go ‘Round the Roses“, though it was not a hit. In 1972, she married Austrian actor Helmuth Sommer and gave birth to their daughter Mimi Sommer in 1973. Citing marital problems caused by her affair with German artist (and future live-in boyfriend) Peter Mühldorfer, she divorced Helmuth but kept his last name, anglicising it to ‘Summer’. She also worked on an album with keyboardist/producer Veit Marvos in 1972, providing backing vocals on his Ariola records release Nice To See You (where she was credited under the pseudonym Gayn Pierre). Several single releases over the years have included a young Donna performing with the group, even though she often denied ever singing on any of the Marvos releases. It should also be noted that the name ‘Gayn Pierre’ was also used by Donna whilst performing in ‘Godspell’ with Helmuth Sommer during 1972.
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Oh no! more bad news sorry to hear this. May God be with her family at this time. My prayers go out to her family R.I.P Donna Summer
Oh such sad news!! I have her greatest hits CD, she had a very good voice. RIP Ms Summer!!!
I loved this chick!!!!! Donna was a bad girl! Awww beep, beep!!
Wow! This is shocking. Sorry to hear of her passing. She had 3 daughters in total and I think one of them was an actress who was on Damon Wayans’ show, “My Wife and Kids”. Really shocked by this.
Wow!
Even though she’s been out of the spotlight for a while, this is still a shock.
Almost like hearing about MJ and Whitney.
Oh wow I’m shocked! I have The Queen of Disco greatest hits too, I’ve always thought Donna Summers and Irene Cara sound alike. I’m really shocked by this and a little lost for words. My sincere condolences to her family. Donna may you rest in eternal peace.~
R.I.P.
It comes in threes they say. First Chuck Brown and now, The Queen of Disco. She was one of my girls back in the day. I partayed to many of her songs. I was shocked to find out of her passing because I did not know she was battling cancer. Rest in Peace, Donna. Condolescences to her family, friends and fans. Toot Toot, Ahhh Beep Beep!. I Love to Love You Donna!, You were “Hot Stuff” “On The Radio”!!!!!
R.I.P. Donna Summer, . . . . . . . .Disco is officially dead.
RIP Donna Summer. We thank you for the music and the memories which will live on forever!
Glad I got to see her in person at an art expo with one of her daughters some years ago. So sorry to learn of her passing.
Wow…this is so shocking and sad.
A lot of the musical artists from my youth have passed recently.
My favorite song by her is ‘Bad Girls.’ That was the jam.
RIP Donna!!! Condolences to her family and friends.
Wow, not “Hot Stuff”! Donna was more my older sister era. But I remember her music being played back then & to this day I would try to sing her “Last Dance” song at karaoke. R.I.P DS!
i remember getting so high when “bad girls” was playing that my friends thought i was in a coma….toot toot yeeaaaa beep beep…that kick drum was banging through them cerwin vegas back in the day. miss u donna. much love.u gave disco that sexy swagger
Wow! So many of our people are passing or are sick right now that it’s starting to get to me.
RIP, Ms. Donna
I will be lisitening to MacArthur Park and Enough Is Enough the minute I leave work.
Thanks for the memories and the good music that you’ve left us!
Aaaaaw MAN!!!! And this woman could STILL “blow”, after all those years!!! I didn’t t even know she was I’ll. Another GOOD one gone waaaaaaay too soon!!! R.I.P., lady!
Sorry……”didn’t even know she was “ill”!! (iPhone, arge!!!!)