Donna Summer began her career as a backing vocalist for Three Dog Night. She was twenty-something at the time. It was in 1976 that her single, Love To Love You Baby, reached the top of the charts and catapulted her to fame. What followed was a series of hit disco numbers such as Could It Be Magic, Last Dance and I Feel Love. Some experts believe that her songs revolutionised disco music.

Disco queen Donna Summer died of cancer on May 17. She was 63.

Meanwhile, leaving music poorer by his death was Robin Gibb, an integral member of the legendary pop band Bee Gees, who died on May 20. Bee Gees stands for Brothers Gibb—Barry, Robin and Maurice. While the group is known for its super-hit songs, Stayin’ Alive, Night Fever and Jive Talkin’, in which Barry Gibb’s falsetto struck a chord with music lovers, not many know that it was in the late ’60s that the band achieved early success owing to Robin Gibb’s voice. He sang Massachusetts and I’ve Just Got To Get A Message To You which were chart-toppers at the time.

Robin Gibb was suffering from severe stomach pains for the last few years and underwent surgery for a blocked intestine in 2010.

He had liver cancer. Barry Gibb is now the only surviving member of the Bee Gees.