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.

Read more

On DawnNews
Dawn News English

Dear visitor, the comments section is undergoing an overhaul and will return soon.

Latest Stories

dawn images site

Most Popular

01
02
03
04
05
06
07
08
09

Must Read

Opinion

Budgeting without people

Budgeting without people

Arifa Noor
Even though the economy is a critical issue, discussions about it involve a select few who are not really interested in communicating with the people.

Editorial

Iranian tragedy
Updated 21 May, 2024

Iranian tragedy

Due to Iran’s regional and geopolitical influence, the world will be watching the power transition carefully.
Circular debt woes
21 May, 2024

Circular debt woes

THE alleged corruption and ineptitude of the country’s power bureaucracy is proving very costly. New official data...
Reproductive health
21 May, 2024

Reproductive health

IT is naïve to imagine that reproductive healthcare counts in Pakistan, where women from low-income groups and ...
Wheat price crash
Updated 20 May, 2024

Wheat price crash

What the government has done to Punjab’s smallholder wheat growers by staying out of the market amid crashing prices is deplorable.
Afghan corruption
20 May, 2024

Afghan corruption

AMONGST the reasons that the Afghan Taliban marched into Kabul in August 2021 without any resistance to speak of ...
Volleyball triumph
20 May, 2024

Volleyball triumph

IN the last week, while Pakistan’s cricket team savoured a come-from-behind T20 series victory against Ireland,...