Donna Summer was the “queen of disco,” “Hot Stuff.” Summer died of lung cancer, but the singer wasn’t a smoker, and the cancer wasn’t related to smoking. The five-time Grammy winner in the R&B, rock, inspirational and dance categories. The singer was 63 and defined the disco movement that led to an appearance a few years ago on “American Idol.”
Donna Summer, was born in Boston and sang from the moment she learned to talk, and her debut performance came in church at age 10. Her big break came when she was a teenager and auditioned in New York for a European version of “Hair.” She landed a role and went to Europe. She achieved success by her mid-20s, but wasn’t able to handle it well, suffering depression and abusive relationships.
Casablanca Records created a sex symbol persona for her, and she was known as the Queen of Love and Symbol of Eros. Her public image left her in conflicted with her religious upbringing, Summer rose to fame the mid-1970s, with “Love to Love You Baby.” It made No. 2 on Billboard in 1976. “I Feel Love,” “Last Dance” and a disco version of the Richard Harris hit “MacArthur Park,” hit No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. It was Summer’s first of four chart-toppers. Her 1979 album “Bad Girls,” produced two No. 1 hits, “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls,” as well as a Top 10 ballad, “Dim All the Lights.” Her next album, “The Wanderer,” produced a Top 10 hit in the title track but did poorly on the charts. In 1983′s “She Works Hard for the Money,” was her last #1 single.
After that Donna made an album with Quincy Jones. She’d signed with Geffen, but her first album was not the best and her second was rejected. The album was sheer music genius. Listen to “Love Is In Control (Finger On The Trigger),” “State Of Independence” or “The Woman In Me” and you will know this was an album ahead of it’s time.
Many think that Ms Summer’s Cancer was caused by 9/11. Look for more news on that in the coming weeks.
Donna you will be missed December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012
Posted by Suzanna Bowling
on May 19, 2012. Filed under ENTERTAIMENT,Music,NEWS,Obituaries.
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