Singer, songwriter and disco icon, Donna Summer has died, aged 63, following a battle with cancer.
Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in Boston, Massachusetts in 1948, the singer's first break came as a cast member of the German production of the musical Hair.
Living in Germany, Summer began working with record producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, releasing an album Lady Of The Night in 1974.
In 1975, the Moroder-produced single Love To Love You Baby catapulted Summer to global success and became an influential template for many disco records of the era.
A string of hits followed, including I Feel Love, MacArthur Park, Bad Girls, She Works Hard For The Money, Last Dance and a duet with Barbara Streisand - No More Tears (Enough is Enough).
1987's Dinner with Gershwin was a UK top twenty hit, followed by 1988's Stock, Aitken and Waterman -produced This Time I Know It's For Real which was a top ten hit on both sides of the Atlantic.
A much-underrated songwriter, Summer's death brought tributes from a host of fellow artists including Madonna, Mary J Blige, Kylie Minogue and Rihanna who all acknowledged her influence.
Summer is survived by her husband Bruce Sudano, their daughters Brooklyn and Amanda and her daughter Mimi from a previous marriage.
Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines in Boston, Massachusetts in 1948, the singer's first break came as a cast member of the German production of the musical Hair.
Living in Germany, Summer began working with record producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, releasing an album Lady Of The Night in 1974.
In 1975, the Moroder-produced single Love To Love You Baby catapulted Summer to global success and became an influential template for many disco records of the era.
A string of hits followed, including I Feel Love, MacArthur Park, Bad Girls, She Works Hard For The Money, Last Dance and a duet with Barbara Streisand - No More Tears (Enough is Enough).
1987's Dinner with Gershwin was a UK top twenty hit, followed by 1988's Stock, Aitken and Waterman -produced This Time I Know It's For Real which was a top ten hit on both sides of the Atlantic.
A much-underrated songwriter, Summer's death brought tributes from a host of fellow artists including Madonna, Mary J Blige, Kylie Minogue and Rihanna who all acknowledged her influence.
Summer is survived by her husband Bruce Sudano, their daughters Brooklyn and Amanda and her daughter Mimi from a previous marriage.
