A final farewell to the Queen of Disco

Dawn.com Published May 18, 2012
On May 17, 2012, after a battle with cancer, Donna Summer died. She leaves behind her husband Bruce Sudano, their daughters Brooklyn and Amanda, as well as her daughter Mimi from her previous marriage. ? Photo by AFP
On May 17, 2012, after a battle with cancer, Donna Summer died. She leaves behind her husband Bruce Sudano, their daughters Brooklyn and Amanda, as well as her daughter Mimi from her previous marriage. ? Photo by AFP
Summer was the first artist to have three double albums reach No. 1 on Billboard's album chart: Live and More, Bad Girls, On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II. ? Photo by AFP
Summer was the first artist to have three double albums reach No. 1 on Billboard's album chart: Live and More, Bad Girls, On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II. ? Photo by AFP
She became a cultural icon, not only as one of the defining voices of the era, but also as an influence on pop divas ranging from Madonna to Beyonc?. ? Photo by AFP
She became a cultural icon, not only as one of the defining voices of the era, but also as an influence on pop divas ranging from Madonna to Beyonc?. ? Photo by AFP
Unlike some other stars of disco who faded as the music became less popular, Summer was able to grow beyond it and later segued to a pop-rock sound. She had one of her biggest hits in the 1980s with "She Works Hard For The Money," which became another anthem, this time for women's rights. ? Photo by AFP
Unlike some other stars of disco who faded as the music became less popular, Summer was able to grow beyond it and later segued to a pop-rock sound. She had one of her biggest hits in the 1980s with "She Works Hard For The Money," which became another anthem, this time for women's rights. ? Photo by AFP
Summer was never inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame, she was garnered as Queen of Disco. Summer was the first African American woman to be nominated for an MTV Video Music Award. ? Photo by AFP
Summer was never inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame, she was garnered as Queen of Disco. Summer was the first African American woman to be nominated for an MTV Video Music Award. ? Photo by AFP
Summer remained a force on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart all through her career, fitting, for the Queen of Disco. She notched 14 No. 1s on the chart ? all the way up through her most recent hit, 2010's "To Paris With Love." ? Photo by AFP
Summer remained a force on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart all through her career, fitting, for the Queen of Disco. She notched 14 No. 1s on the chart ? all the way up through her most recent hit, 2010's "To Paris With Love." ? Photo by AFP
Her last studio album, 2008's "Crayons," spun off three No. 1 Dance/Club hits with "I'm a Fire," "Stamp Your Feet" and "Fame (The Game)" ? Photo by Reuters
Her last studio album, 2008's "Crayons," spun off three No. 1 Dance/Club hits with "I'm a Fire," "Stamp Your Feet" and "Fame (The Game)" ? Photo by Reuters
?I Feel Love" one of Summer's songs has been sampled several times. The song was sampled by Madonna, Whitney Houston, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Moloko, Britney Spears, Robbie Williams, Darren Hayes, Mylo, David Guetta,Stuart Price, and Moby among others. ? Photo by AP
?I Feel Love" one of Summer's songs has been sampled several times. The song was sampled by Madonna, Whitney Houston, Bette Midler, Diana Ross, Moloko, Britney Spears, Robbie Williams, Darren Hayes, Mylo, David Guetta,Stuart Price, and Moby among others. ? Photo by AP
"I Feel Love" has been covered onstage by Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante, Kylie Minogue, Blondie, Basement Jaxx, and Finnish progressive rock band Kingston Wall. ? Photo by AP
"I Feel Love" has been covered onstage by Madonna, the Red Hot Chili Peppers' John Frusciante, Kylie Minogue, Blondie, Basement Jaxx, and Finnish progressive rock band Kingston Wall. ? Photo by AP
Summer's music career has landed her as the eighth most successful female recording artist in history according to Billboard. ? Photo by AP
Summer's music career has landed her as the eighth most successful female recording artist in history according to Billboard. ? Photo by AP
Eleven of her albums went Gold in the United States. ? Photo by AP
Eleven of her albums went Gold in the United States. ? Photo by AP

LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012), known by the stage name Donna Summer, was an American singer-songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and was a five-time Grammy Award winner.

Summer was the first to have three consecutive double albums reach number one on the US Billboard chart, and she also charted four number-one singles in the United States within a 13-month period.

Summer died on the morning of May 17, 2012, at age 63 following a battle with cancer.

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