Disco Queen Donna Summer Dies at 63
- Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:51pm by
Jonathon M. Seidl
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In this May 21, 2008 file photo, Donna Summer performs during the finale of "American Idol" at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Summer, the Queen of Disco who ruled the dance floors with anthems like Last Dance, Love to Love You Baby and Bad Girl, has died. Her family announced her death in a statement Thursday, May 17, 2012. She was 63. (AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian, File)
NEW YORK (AP) — Disco queen Donna Summer, whose pulsing anthems such as “Last Dance,“ ”Love to Love You Baby“ and ”Bad Girls” became the soundtrack for a glittery age of sex, drugs, dance and flashy clothes, has died. She was 63.
Her family released a statement Thursday saying Summer died and that they “are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continue legacy.”
Summer gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s, and released a number of albums that have reach gold or platinum status, including the multiplatinum “Bad Girls” and “On the Radio, Volume I & II.” Her No. 1 Billboard Hot 100 hits include “Hot Stuff” and “MacArthur Park.”
Her sound was a mix of genres, and helped her earn Grammy Awards in the dance, rock, R&B and inspirational categories.
She released her last album, “Crayons,” in 2008. She also performed on “American Idol” that year with its top female contestants.
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Comments (60)
Gallant4Liberty
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:56pmTragic–she had a gift and she inpired many after coming to Christ. She will be remembered as a great talent.
Report Post »MittensKittens
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:14pmYeah, just like Whitney Houston, even though she was not seen for what she really was, a drug abusing crack head…I wonder how and from what Donna Summers died…surely wasn’t old age!?!
Report Post »edmundburk
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:31pmRIP Donna Summer- you will be missed!
Report Post »I support God's Israel!
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:43pmWhat was really wonderful about this woman, in her last days, was that she held HOME BIBLE STUDIES, which to me, means SHE WAS READY TO MEET HER LORD AND SAVIOR. And, isn’t that what we are supposed to do with our lives? GREAT singer. GREAT person. She walked the walk.,
Report Post »Independent4233
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:16pmI hate to sound sacrilegeous, but who is she?
This is the first time I’ve ever heard her name.
Report Post »sta
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 6:56pmKittensMittens, she died of cancer.
Report Post »kilwil888
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:54pmWe “loved to love you baby”! RIP.
Report Post »Wilma
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:04pmWell said. She was amazing!
Report Post »Iamnotanumber
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:53pmA beautiful, beautiful woman, with a strong voice. Rest in peace.
Report Post »Bob
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:48pmA most beautiful human being, a lady who’s voice brought forth so many, many, memories. Today there is great sadness here on earth, and rejoicing in heaven. Thank you Donna, for everything.
Report Post »moreteaplease
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:43pmMy teenage years come flooding back to me when I hear Donna’s voice. She was the cornerstone for disco in my book.
@PETTYDRAMA
I remember when I thought people in their 40′s were ancient and out of touch. Then I turned around one day and my teenage daughter is calling me old. Whoa!!! I didn’t see that one coming?
Report Post »BeyondFedup
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:38pmMay she rest in peace, what a great lady.
Report Post »Bronco II
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:34pmI was saddend by the news I always liked her music and use to dance to it all the time.May she rest in peace and my thoughts and prayers are with her family.As far I know and have followed her over the years you never heard anything bad about her.I believe if my memory serves me right there was an interview with her many years back where she was going to change her music to be more spiritual to be a good role model for the younger people and I was happy to hear her say that although it just depends on your frame of mind how you want to take some of her songs I didn‘t think of the words the same as others may have so I didn’t have a problem with some of them but that’s me.Sing your heart out in GODS CHOIR.BLESS YOU DONNA.
Report Post »zoro51
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:45pmshell be missed MORE than whitney she WAS DISCO and she was a damn good painter as well.. shell be sorely missed LONG LIVE DISCO
Report Post »COFemale
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:33pmGod rest her soul. I have a couple of her albums. I might just have to break out the record player and play her songs in memory.
Petty, just remember when you get our age people your age will be saying “What is rap or gangsta rap”. Of course, I don’t call that music.
Report Post »WizzOzz
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 3:10pmHey COFEMALE – just saying “album” brings it all back! And I am there with you. Have a vinyl collection myself 33 and 45′s…..
RIP Donna Summer – Toot Toot HEY Beep Beep!
Report Post »usmc1063
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:18pmAdd your comments
Report Post »usmc1063
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:15pmOnce again an amazing voice is silenced Donna Summer had a rare and beautiful gift that brought pleasure to millions including me. She was born LeDonna Adrian Gaines sang lead in her Church Choir when she was 10. She was born a Christian and died within her faith and is now singing a lead in the Heavenly Choir. The last dance will never be the same knowing that you are gone. RIP
Report Post »grandmaof5
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:29pmAnd I bet that is a rockin’ Heavenly choir! RIP,
Report Post »Kees
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:12pmYep, the clothes were pretty tacky…we were just saying last night, we hope the fashion world never brings back the Bell Bottoms.
Report Post »REBELWITHACAUSE
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:18pmWHAT?? I loved bell bottoms. I danced to those very songs at many a high school dance in ‘77, ‘78, and ‘79. Oh pooh… I’m telling my age, aren’t I? Who cares… that was fantastic time. Glad to have lived through them and had a chance to know her music… brilliant lady.
Report Post »Anonymous T. Irrelevant
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:11pmRIP Donna. You stayed classy. I hope the news doesn’t spend a week on your death like they did with Witney.
Report Post »wkw58
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:56pmShe was awesome in the late 70′s…a real hottie!
Report Post »godlovinmom
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:52pmOne of my all time favorite singers…Rest in Peace Donna.
Report Post »jajamimi
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:47pmI was searching for a faith-based current affairs website. Never would have thought to find snarky & down-right mean comments about someone passing for whatever reason let alone breast cancer. I will not return to this site. As Christians we should know better & do better. I live close to ST Jude so I guess some of those newborn to 18 year-olds must have not been living right. GEEZ!
Report Post »I support God's Israel!
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 5:52pmjajamimi:
Some of the visitors to this web site ARE trolls. Trolls are usually those LIBERAL PROGRESSIVES who want to stir the pot on conservative websites by saying negatives things about the articles on it. PLEASE IGNORE THEM. MOST readers and commentors on TheBlaze.com ARE VERY GOOD, CONSERVATIVE people who are deeply concerned about America and the people living here.
PLEASE DO NOT GO AWAY THINKING THAT ALL OF US ARE THE WAY OF THE PEOPLE YOU READ COMMENTS FROM. If you had been here for awhile, you will find out that true conservatives have 1 GOAL IN MIND and that goal is to STICK TOGETHER, HELP ONE ANOTHER, and PROVIDE THE TRUTH without HURTING a person with malice.
You will find those kinds of people on other sites, so do not judge this site by THE FEW, but by the MAJORITY. YOU WILL FIND THE TRUTH IN ARTICLES HERE. Ignore the comments if you disagree with them. Or, chime in and offer us your opinion.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:27pmWith that kind of smart@ss attitude you’ll be lucky to see 50.
Report Post »Gonzo
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:32pmFor PETTYDRAMA
Report Post »TIME_2_END_THE_PAUL_CAMPAIGN_IN_12
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:24pmWhen with the Army during the late 70′s stationed in Panama as disco would dying a slow death in the States it was flourishing in Panama and other parts of Central America. The funny thing was that many Panamanian women would ask if Donna Summer was a transvestite? Not just one or two, but everyone that you ran into seemed to be fixated on that for some reason. Don’t know where the rumor started but it had me wondering for a short period of time.
I enjoyed her music, she was a great talent and seemed to be a class act.. and NOT a transvestite. Lol.
Report Post »Car54
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:18pmA TMZ update said she died from lung cancer, that Donna thought it was caused by the debris in the air from 9/11.
Report Post »The-Monk
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:18pmSo….. what was the cause of death?
Report Post »riseandshine
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:17pmThat’s too bad. 63 is pretty young these days.
Report Post »TheEDGE
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:55pmI heard she was dating a Kennedy.
Report Post »Obamujahadeen
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:16pmThis is the one I remember most from her as I was around 9 then….
Last Dance Tonight….. Last dance, Last dance for love…..Yes, it’s my last chance, For romance, tonight……I need you by me, Beside me, to guide me, To hold me, to scold me, ‘Cause when I’m bad, I’m so, so bad So let’s dance the last dance / Let’s dance the last dance, Let’s dance this last dance tonight. R I P. At least she didn’t go the Whitney Way.
And the disco ball stops from the 70′s Disco Phenomenon. One that I celebrated with Steve Dahl and Gary Meir who blew up a crate of disco records on the Comisky Park Outfield at the billed “Disco Demolition Night” in between double headers which caused game 2 to be cancelled after a small riot most over 40 will remember hearing about.
Dahl was a viscous disco hater. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disco_Demolition_Night
Report Post »ricka47
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:04pmWow, I wasn’t at the game that night. But, I was watching it on TV while waiting to go play tennis. I was a big Steve and Garry fan and agreed with Steve about disco. Despite that, I did like Donna Summer and her music!
Report Post »SistaTriscuit
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:11pmI’m 39, so I was just a tiny tot at the height of the disco era…. but I discovered Donna Summer in my 20‘s during the 90’s thanks to “The Full Monty” movie and soundtrack, and I still listen to her music. What a talent she was and what a loss to the industry.
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:16pmThe Full Monty…. Heh heh heh….. I loved that movie!
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:01pmDanced many a disco move to her songs that if tried now would put me in permanent bondage….. What I’d give to be able to move like that again!
Report Post »PETTYDRAMA
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 12:59pmNever heard of her. But then again Im not 100 yrs old either.
Report Post »kickagrandma
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:06pmI’m not 100 years old either. You should’ve been around back then. Disco was fun! Clothes were tacky, but the music was pretty good.
Report Post »tommyB
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:06pmI’m 40 and I loved her stuff when I was a kid 8 9 10yo. Must have been the hard livin’ that did her in at 63.
Report Post »Tom K
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:13pm@ PETTYDRAMA : Donna was EXACTLY my age, Bad Girl. One day, if you are lucky, people YOUR age will die and you will get a grip on your own mortality. Donna Summer was part of the age of Disco Music that swept the world. God Bless her and her family.
Report Post »PatrickHenryFan
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:17pmThat is all right, I am not 100 but have never heard of you and I would be willing to guess no one else has either.
Report Post »The great paradox of the young know it all’s that make snarky comments about age is that either you get old or you do not, I prefer the former to the latter and would much prefer to listen to someone 77 than someone 17
Deda1
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:18pmTommyB she died of breast cancer
Report Post »Annika2011
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:29pmPetty- why so rude to Kickagrandma?
Kicka- I loved the music too! And the clothes.
Also you are very good natured with Petty.
Donna Summer looks wonderful in the above photo.
My condolences to the family and friends.
Report Post »rowdygirl
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 1:48pmYour name fits you alright.. let me guess, you’re a Jay-z fan and think that’s music, right?
Report Post »PETTYDRAMA
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:28pmYep. I figured I would get a big string of replies from the overwhelming old and irrelevant people that use this site as their bible…haha!
Report Post »MAMMY_NUNN
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 2:30pmShe had way more talent than what is shown today. (What they call music today is a seizure on a turntable a few gutteral grunts and groans through in some Tourette syndrome outburst and thats music)
Report Post »formidable_foe
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:22pm@Pettydrama
“Yep. I figured I would get a big string of replies from the overwhelmingLY old and irrelevant people WHO use this site as their bible.”
_________________________________________________________________________________
Your name suits you perfectly. I suppose your point is that anything your not familiar with or is not current/new is worthless. Here’s something NEW you can get… a musical IQ along with some new grammar skills. See your corrected post above.
Report Post »formidable_foe
Posted on May 17, 2012 at 4:25pmExcuse me… I shall correct myself, as my post should read, “anything YOU’RE not familiar with…”
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