Last Dance for Donna Summer, the Queen of Disco

Donna Summer Top 20 Songs

Donna Summer, dubbed the Queen of Disco, was born LaDonna Gaines on December 31, 1948 in Boston. Singing in church prompted her to pursue music as a career in the late 1960s. Her first single, “Sall Go ‘Round the Roses,” was released in 1971 under her birth name after she had performed in some musicals in Europe, including a production of Hair in Germany. That same year she married actor Helmuth Sommer and even after their divorce in 1975, she kept an anglicized version of the name. Her first chart hit was “the breathy, sexualized” BB #2 “Love to Love You Baby” in 1975. She charted more than 30 songs on the Billboard Hot 100 over three decades, but was at her peak in the latter half of the 1970s. “Her collaborations with producer Giorgio Moroder…broke ground for dance music and have been hugely influential on electronic music in the decades since.” RS She took four songs to #1 in 1978 and 1979. She also had three consecutive #1 albums from 1978 to 1980. Even though her career waned in the post-disco era, she still made several trips to the top ten in the 1980s. She had 14 top ten hits total and collected five Grammys over the years. Summer died on 5/17/2012 after a battle with lung cancer. She believed it came from inhaling particles following the 9/11 attacks in New York. She was survived by her husband Bruce Sudano (who she married in 1980) and their daughters Brooklyn and Amanda. She also had a daughter, Mimi, with her first husband, and had four grandchildren. Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Donna Summer Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists”

Awards:

Top 20 Songs Dave’s Music Database lists are determined by song’s appearances on best-of lists, appearances on compilations and live albums by the featured act, and songs’ chart success, sales, radio airplay, streaming, and awards. Songs which topped the Billboard Hot 100, R&B charts, and UK charts are noted. 1. Hot Stuff (1979) #1 2. Last Dance (1978) 3. Bad Girls (1979) #1, #1 RB 4. I Feel Love (1977) #1 UK 5. MacArthur Park (1978) #1 6. Love to Love You Baby (1975) 7. No More Tears (Enough Is Enough) (with Barbra Streisand, 1979) #1 8. On the Radio (1980) 9. She Works Hard for the Money (1983) #1 RB 10. Heaven Knows (1979) 11. Dim All the Lights (1979) 12. This Time I Know It’s for Real (1989) 13. The Wanderer (1980) 14. Love Is in Control (1982) 15. There Goes My Baby (1984) 16. Unconditional Love (with Musical Youth, 1983) 17. Cold Love (1980) 18. Winter Melody (1976) 19. The Woman in Me (1982) 20. Dinner with Gershwin (1987) Resources and Related Links: DMDB Encyclopedia entry for Donna Summer Dave’s Music Database: “Acts’ Profile Pages and Best-of Lists” BB Billboard.com Donna Summer, Queen of Disco, Dead at 63 by Billboard Staff (5/17/2012) Entertainment Weekly Donna Summer has died at 63 by Leah Greenblatt (5/17/2012) RS RollingStone.com Donna Summer Dead at 63 by Rolling Stone (5/17/2012) Spinner.com Donna Summer Dead: Disco Legend Dies After Cancer Battle at 63 by Dan Reilly (5/17/2012) First posted 5/17/2012; last updated 12/30/2023.