Donna Summer Dead At 63
One of the biggest stars of the Disco era, if not the biggest of them all, died today at the age of 63:
Donna Summer died Thursday morning after a battle with lung cancer.
Lovingly named the “Queen of Disco,” the 63-year-old was in Florida at the time of her death, according to TMZ. Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines, the 5-time Grammy award winner rose to fame in the ’70s with hits like “Hot Stuff,” “Bad Girls” and “Love to Love You Baby.”
Following the news of Summer’s passing, the singer’s family released a statement saying that they “are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy.”
You didn’t necessarily have to be a fan of Disco in the 70s and 80s to know who Summer was, she and her music were quite literally everywhere but her career seemed to fizzle off after the Disco faded and stars like Madonna and Michael Jackson started exploding on the music scene. Nonetheless, even today, her music will pop up on the radio.
Under the circumstances, this seems appropriate:
She brings back memories of the gay bar scene back in the ’70s. The two big ones in Dallas were The Old Plantation and the The Bayou Landing.
Most of the people I went to those bars with died of AIDS, including my best friend from elementary school on.
She also brings back memories of the hetero scene in the ’70s! Wild sex and pre-AIDS.
There was a fat guy who lived in the neighborhood and went to school with me. He turned out gay, too, and became a really good dancer to songs like Donna Summer’s. Mike.
After her singing career faded, she devoted herself to painting. You can see some of her work here.
I’d have to say she was a better singer than painter. I do like her impression of the girl on the left.
Last Dance…. (sigh)
I remember when “She Works Hard For The Money” came out in 1983 and there was this big controversy because people thought the song was about a prostitute.
Years later, it turned out that the inspiration for the lyrics, which Summer co-wrote, came from a bathroom attendant she met.