Donna Summer was born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on December 31, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts. The American disco singer/songwriter made her debut in the 1970s and later became the “Queen of Disco”. The artist began singing at a young age in the gospel choir at her church and was later inspired by rock singer, Janis Joplin. While she was a teenager she wanted to become the first black rock singer and began singing with a psychedelic rock group called The Crow.
While singing background for the 1970s trio, Three Dog Night, she met producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. In 1974, she released her first album, Lady of the Night through Groovy Records, a European record label and gained much success in the Netherlands, France and Belgium for her song, “The Hostage”. It wasn’t until 1975 that Summer signed with Casablanca Records and climbed the American Billboard Hot 100 chart for her hit disco single, “Love to Love You Baby”. Summer continued to release more concept albums: The Love Trilogy, Four Seasons of Love, and I Remember Yesterday, which featured her electronic futuristic hit single, “I Feel Love”.
“LAST DANCE” IN 1978
After continued international success from her six studio albums, Donna Summer released her disco, soul and rock fused album Bad Girls in 1979. Bad Girls became her best-selling album, selling nearly seven million copies worldwide. The album featured her hit singles, “Walk Away”, “Bad Girls” and “Dim All The Lights”. In that same year, Summer won her second Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for her single, “Hot Stuff”. Following this record, Donna Summer received much success for her smash hits, “On The Radio”, “She Works Hard For The Money”, and “Flashdance (What A Feeling)”.
Donna Summer’s overall career included 5 Grammy Awards, 6 American Music Awards, 12 tours, 2 live albums, 32 compilation albums and 17 studio albums, with Crayons as her latest release in 2008. “The Queen of Disco” has also received a NAACP Image Award and was recently nominated for the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Donna Summer was definitely a woman ahead of her time.
DONNA SUMMER PERFORMING “BAD GIRLS” (1979):
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