Donna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012),[2] known professionally as Donna Summer, was an American singer and songwriter. She gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s and became known as the "Queen of Disco", while her music gained a global following.[3][4]
Summer amassed a total of 32 chart singles on the US Billboard Hot 100 in her lifetime, including 14 top-10 singles and four number-one singles. She claimed a top-40 hit every year between 1976 and 1984, and from her first top-10 hit in 1976, to the end of 1982, she had 12 top-10 hits (10 were top-five hits), more than any other act during that period. She returned to the Hot 100's top five in 1983, and claimed her final top-10 hit in 1989 with "This Time I Know It's for Real". She was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach the top of the US Billboard 200 chart and charted four number-one singles in the US within a 12-month period. She also charted two number-one singles on the R&B Singles chart in the US and a number-one single in the United Kingdom.[7] Her last Hot 100 hit came in 1999 with "I Will Go with You (Con te partirò)". While her fortunes on the Hot 100 waned in subsequent decades, Summer remained a force on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart throughout her entire career.
Summer died in 2012 from lung cancer, at her home in Naples, Florida.[8] In her obituary in The Times, she was described as the "undisputed queen of the Seventies disco boom" who reached the status of "one of the world's leading female singers."[3] Moroder described Summer's work on the song "I Feel Love" as "really the start of electronic dance" music.[9] In 2013, Summer was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.[10] In December 2016, Billboard ranked her sixth on its list of the "Greatest of All Time Top Dance Club Artists".[11]
Early life
Donna Adrian Gaines, the third of seven children, was born in Boston on December 31, 1948, to Andrew and Mary Gaines.[12] She was raised in the Boston neighborhood of Mission Hill. Her father was a butcher, and her mother was a schoolteacher.[5]
Summer's performance debut occurred at church when she was ten years old, replacing a vocalist who failed to appear.[5] She attended Boston's Jeremiah E. Burke High School where she performed in school musicals and was considered popular.[5] In 1967, just weeks before graduation, Summer left for New York City, where she joined the blues rock band Crow. After a record label passed on signing the group since it was only interested in the band's lead singer, the group agreed to dissolve.[13]
Summer stayed in New York and auditioned for a role in the counterculture musical, Hair. She landed the part of Sheila and agreed to take the role in the Munich production of the show, moving there in August 1968 after getting her parents' reluctant approval.[5] She eventually became fluent in German, singing various songs in that language, and participated in the musicals Ich bin ich (the German version of The Me Nobody Knows), Godspell, and Show Boat. Within three years, she moved to Vienna, Austria, and joined the Vienna Volksoper.
In 1968, Summer released (as Donna Gaines) on Polydor her first single, a German version of the title "Aquarius" from the musical Haare (Hair), followed in 1971 by a second single, a remake of the Jaynetts' 1963 hit, "Sally Go 'Round the Roses", from a one-off European deal with Decca Records.[14] In 1969, she issued the single "If You Walkin' Alone" on Philips Records.[14]
She married Austrian actor Helmuth Sommer in 1973, and gave birth to their daughter Natalia Pia Melanie "Mimi" Sommer,[15] the same year. She provided backing vocals for producer-keyboardist Veit Marvos on his Ariola Records release Nice to See You, credited as "Gayn Pierre". Several subsequent singles included Donna performing with the group, and the name "Gayn Pierre" was used while performing in Godspell with Helmuth Sommer during 1972.[14] Their marriage subsequently ended in divorce, and she married singer-guitarist Bruce Sudano in 1980.[16]
Music career
1974–1979: Initial success
While working as a model part-time and backing singer in Munich, Summer met producer Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte during a recording session for Three Dog Night at Musicland Studios. The trio forged a working partnership, and Donna was signed to their Oasis label in 1974. A demo tape of Summer's work with Moroder and Bellotte led to a deal with the European-distributed label Groovy Records. Due to an error on the record cover, Donna Sommer became Donna Summer; the name stuck. Summer's first album was Lady of the Night. It became a hit in the Netherlands, Sweden, Germany and Belgium on the strength of two songs, "The Hostage" and the title track "Lady of the Night". "The Hostage" reached the top of the charts in France, but was removed from radio playlists in Germany because of the song's subject matter: a high ranking politician that had recently been kidnapped and held for ransom.[17] One of her first TV appearances was in the television show, Van Oekel's Discohoek, which started the breakthrough of "The Hostage", and in which she gracefully went along with the scripted absurdity and chaos in the show.
In 1975, Summer passed on an idea for a song to Moroder who was working with another artist; a song that would be called "Love To Love You Baby". Summer, Moroder and Bellotte wrote the song together, and together they worked on a demo version with Summer singing the song. Moroder decided that Summer's version should be released. Seeking an American release for the song, it was sent to Casablanca Records president Neil Bogart. Bogart played the song at one of his extravagant industry parties, where it was so popular with the crowd, they insisted that it be played over and over, each time it ended. Bogart requested that Moroder produce a longer version for discothèques. Moroder, Bellotte, and Summer returned with a 17-minute version. Bogart tweaked the title and Casablanca signed Summer, releasing the single in November 1975. The shorter 7" version of the single was promoted by radio stations, while clubs regularly played the 17-minute version (the longer version would also appear on the album).
By early 1976, "Love to Love You Baby" had reached No. 2 on the US Hot 100 chart and had become a Gold single, while the album had sold over a million copies. The song generated controversy due to Summer's moans and groans, which emulated lovemaking, and some American stations, like those in Europe with the initial release, refused to play it.[12] Despite this, "Love to Love You Baby" found chart success in several European countries, and made the Top 5 in the United Kingdom despite the BBC ban. Casablanca Records wasted no time releasing the follow-up album A Love Trilogy, featuring "Try Me, I Know We Can Make It".
In 1977, Summer released the concept album I Remember Yesterday. The song "I Feel Love", reached No. 6 on the Hot 100 chart. and No. 1 in the UK. She received her first American Music Award nomination for Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist. The single would attain Gold status and the album went Platinum in the US. Another concept album, also released in 1977, was Once Upon a Time, a double album which told of a modern-day Cinderella "rags to riches" story. This album would attain Gold status. Summer recorded the song "Down Deep Inside" as the theme song for the 1977 film The Deep. In 1978, Summer acted in the film Thank God It's Friday, the film met with modest success; the song "Last Dance", reached No. 3 on the Hot 100. The soundtrack and single both went Gold and resulted in Summer winning her first Grammy Award, for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance. Its writer, Paul Jabara, won both an Academy Award and Golden Globe Award for the composition. Summer also had "With Your Love" and "Je t'aime... moi non plus", on the soundtrack. Her version of the Jimmy Webb ballad, "MacArthur Park", became her first No. 1 hit on the Hot 100 chart. It was also the only No. 1 hit for songwriter Jimmy Webb; the single went Gold and topped the charts for three weeks. She received a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. The song was featured on Summer's first live album, Live and More, which also became her first album to hit number one on the US Billboard 200 chart and went double-Platinum, selling over 2 million copies. The week of November 11, 1978, Summer became the first female artist of the modern rock era to have the No. 1 single on the Hot 100[18] and album on the Billboard 200 charts, simultaneously.[19] The song "Heaven Knows", which featured Brooklyn Dreams singer Joe "Bean" Esposito; reached No. 4 on the Hot 100 and became another Gold single.
In 1979, Summer gained five big hits: "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls", "Heaven Knows", "Dim All the Lights",[20] and No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)".[21] The week of June 16, 1979, Summer would again have the number-one single on the Hot 100 chart, and the number-one album on the Billboard 200 chart; when "Hot Stuff" regained the top spot on the Hot 100 chart.[22] The following week, "Bad Girls" would be on top of the US Top R&B albums chart.
1980–1985: She Works Hard For The Money, unreleased album, new record label
Summer received four nominations for the 7th Annual American Music Awards in 1980, and took home awards for Female Pop/Rock and Female Soul/R&B Artist; and well as Pop/Rock single for "Bad Girls". In 1980, her single "On the Radio", reached No. 5, selling over a million copies in the US alone, making it a Gold single. "The Wanderer" reached #3 on the Hot 100. Summer would again receive a Grammy nomination for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. Just over a week after the awards, Summer had her own nationally televised special, The Donna Summer Special,[23] which aired on ABC network on January 27, 1980. After the release of the On the Radio album, Summer wanted to branch out into other musical styles, which led to tensions between her and Casablanca Records. Casablanca wanted her to continue to record disco only. Summer was upset with President Neil Bogart over the early release of the single "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)", because Casablanca didn't wait until her previous single, "Dim All the Lights", had peaked; she had penned "Dim All the Lights" alone, and was hoping for a number-one hit as a songwriter. Summer and the label parted ways in 1980, and she signed with Geffen Records, the new label started by David Geffen. Summer filed a $10 million lawsuit against Casablanca; the label counter-sued. In the end, she did not receive any money, but won the rights to her own lucrative song publishing.[24]
She would soon be working on her next album. It was to be another double album set. When David Geffen stopped by the studio for a preview, he was warned that it was a work in progress, but it was almost done. That was a mistake, because only a few tracks had been finished, and most of them were in demo phase. He heard enough to tell producers that it was not good enough; the project was canceled. It would be released years later in 1996, under the title I'm a Rainbow.[25] Over the years, a few of the tracks would be released. The song "Highway Runner" appears on the soundtrack for the film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. "Romeo" appears on the Flashdance soundtrack. Both, "I'm a Rainbow" and "Don't Cry for Me Argentina" would be on her 1993 anthology album.
By then Geffen Records had been notified by Polygram Records, which now owned Casablanca, that Summer still needed to deliver to them one more album to fulfill her contract. Summer had her biggest success in the 1980s while on Geffen's roster with her next album She Works Hard for the Money and its title song—which were released by Mercury Records in a one-off arrangement to settle Summer's split with the soon-to-be-defunct Casablanca Records, whose catalogue now resided with Mercury and Casablanca's parent company PolyGram.
Summer recorded and delivered the album She Works Hard for the Money and Polygram released it on its Mercury imprint in 1983. The title song became a major hit, reaching No. 3 on the US Hot 100, as well as No. 1 on Billboard's R&B chart for three weeks. It also garnered Summer another Grammy nomination, for Best Female Pop Vocal Performance. "Unconditional Love", which featured the British group Musical Youth, and "Love Has a Mind of Its Own" did not crack the top 40. The album itself was certified Gold, and climbed to No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart; the highest chart position of any female artist in male-dominated 1983. The song "He's a Rebel" would win Summer her third Grammy Award, this time for Best Inspirational Performance.
British director Brian Grant was hired to direct Summer's video for "She Works Hard for the Money". The video was a success, being nominated for Best Female Video and Best Choreography at the 1984 MTV Music Video Awards; Summer became one of the first African-American artists, and the first African-American female artist to have her video played in heavy rotation on MTV. Grant would also be hired to direct Summer's Costa Mesa HBO concert special, A Hot Summers Night. Grant, who was a fan of the song "State of Independence", had an idea for a grand finale. He wanted a large chorus of children to join Summer on stage at the ending of the song. His team looked for local school children in Orange County, to create a chorus of 500 students. On the final day of rehearsals, the kids turned up and they had a full rehearsal. According to Grant, "It looked and sounded amazing. It was a very emotional, very tearful experience for everyone who was there." He thought if this was that kind of reaction in rehearsal, then what an impact it would have in the concert. After the rehearsal Grant was informed that he could not use the kids because the concert would end after 10 pm; children could not be licensed to be on stage at such a late hour (California had strict child labor laws in 1983). "It's a moment that I regret immensely: a grand finale concept I came up with that couldn't be filmed in the end".[26] When the final sequence was filmed, Summer's daughter Mimi and her family members joined her on stage for "State of Independence".
In late 1983, David Geffen enlisted "She Works Hard for the Money's" producer Michael Omartian to produce Cats Without Claws. Summer was happy that Geffen and his executives stayed out of the studio during the recording and thanked him in the album's liner notes, but her request for the lead single would be rejected. The album failed to attain Gold status in the US, her first album not to do so.[27] It was first album not to yield a top-ten hit, since 1977's Once Upon a Time. The Drifters cover "There Goes My Baby" reached No. 21 and "Supernatural Love" went to No. 75. She would win another Grammy for Best Inspirational Performance for the song "Forgive Me".
In 1986, Harold Faltermeyer wrote the title song for a German ski movie called Fire and Ice, and thought Summer would be ideal to sing the song. He decided to reach out to Summer and, although she was not interested in singing the song, she was very much interested in working with Faltermeyer again. After a meeting with David Geffen he was on board with the project. Summer's main objective for the album was that it have stronger R&B influences; Faltermeyer who had just finished doing the soundtracks to Top Gun and Fletch, was after a tough FM-oriented sound. On completion, Geffen liked what he heard, but his executives did not think there were enough songs that could be deemed singles. They wanted Faltermeyer to produce "Dinner with Gershwin", but he was already busy with another project, so another producer was found. They also substituted a previous recording called "Bad Reputation", songs like "Fascination", fell by the wayside. Geffen had shared the vision of moving Summer into the R&B market as a veteran artist, but these expectations were not met. Faltermeyer, in a 2012 interview with Daeida Magazine, said, "She was an older artist by then and the label's priority may have been on the youth market. The decision was made afterward by executives who were looking for a radio hit for 1987 and not something that would perhaps last beyond then."[29] The label's President Ed Rosenblatt would later admit: "The company never intended to focus on established superstars".[30] The album All Systems Go, did not achieve Gold status and became her lowest charting studio album in the US to date. The single "Dinner with Gershwin" (written by Brenda Russell) stalled at 48 in the US, though it became a hit in the UK, peaking at No. 13. The album's title track, "All Systems Go", was released only in the UK, where it peaked at No. 54.[31]
For Summer's next album, Geffen Records hired the British hit production team of Stock Aitken Waterman (or SAW), who enjoyed incredible success writing and producing for such acts as Kylie Minogue, Bananarama, and Rick Astley, among others. The SAW team describe the working experience as a labour of love, and said it was their favourite album of all that they had recorded. Geffen decided not to release the album Another Place and Time, and Summer and Geffen Records parted ways in 1988. The album was released in Europe in March 1989 on Warner Bros. Records, which had been Summer's label in Europe since 1982. The single "This Time I Know It's for Real" became a top ten hit in several countries in Europe, prompting Warner Bros.' sister company, Atlantic Records, to sign Summer in the US. The single peaked at No. 7 on the US Hot 100 and became her 12th Gold single in America. She scored two more UK hits from the album, "I Don't Wanna Get Hurt" (UK No. 7) and "Love's About to Change My Heart" (UK No. 20).[31][32]
In 1989, Summer and her husband, Bruce Sudano, had been in talks to do a new kind of reality-based sitcom. It would be based on their own hectic household. At the time, they lived with their children Amanda, Brooklyn and Mimi, two sets of in-laws, and a maid. The television network started changing the premise of the show, making it less funny, says Sudano, "And because we were an interracial couple, they didn't want us to be married anymore". In 1989, this was "an issue. So with that mentality we just backed out of it."[33]
1990–1999: Mistaken Identity, acting, and Live & More Encore
In 1990, a Warner compilation, The Best of Donna Summer, was released (no US issue). The album went Gold in the UK after the song "State of Independence" was re-released there to promote the album. A remix of the Another Place and Time track "Breakaway" was released from the same album, becoming a major hit in Latin America.[34] Despite this success, Summer rejected Sudano's advice that she should record a second album with SAW, insisting that she wanted to make an R&B record.[34]
The following year, Summer worked with producer Keith Diamond emerged with the album Mistaken Identity, which included elements of R&B as well as new jack swing. "When Love Cries" continued her success on the R&B charts, reaching No. 18. However, the album was commercially unsuccessful, failing to enter the US Billboard 200 and any chart outside the United States. It only entered at number 97 on the US Top R&B Albums chart. In 1992, Summer embarked on a world tour and later that year received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[35] She reunited with Giorgio Moroder, for the song "Carry On", which was included on the 1993, Polygram issued The Donna Summer Anthology, it contained 34 tracks of Summer's material with Casablanca and Mercury Records, and from her tenures with Atlantic and Geffen.[36][unreliable source?]
During this time, Summer had role on the sitcom Family Matters as Steve Urkel's (Jaleel White) Aunt Oona. She made two appearances, season 5's "Aunt Oona" and season 8's "Pound Foolish". In 1998, Summer received the first Grammy Award for Best Dance Recording, after a remixed version of her 1992 collaboration with Giorgio Moroder, "Carry On", was released in 1997. In 1999, Summer was asked to do the Divas 2 concert, but when she went in and met with the producers, it was decided that they would do Donna in concert by herself. Summer taped a live television special for VH1 titled Donna Summer – Live & More Encore, producing the second-highest ratings for the network that year, after their annual Divas special. A CD of the event was released by Epic Records and featured two studio recordings, "I Will Go with You (Con te partirò)" and "Love Is the Healer", both of which reached No. 1 on the US dance charts.[17]
2000–2009: Later recordings and Crayons
In 2000, Summer participated in VH1's third annual Divas special, dedicated to Diana Ross; she sang the Supremes hit Reflections, and her own material for the show. "The Power of One" is a theme song for the movie Pokémon: The Movie 2000. The dramatic ballad was produced by David Foster and dance remixes were also issued to DJs and became another dance floor success for Summer, peaking at No. 2 on the same chart in 2000. In 2003, Summer issued her autobiography, Ordinary Girl: The Journey, and released a best-of set titled The Journey: The Very Best of Donna Summer. In 2004, Summer was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame as an artist, alongside the Bee Gees and Barry Gibb. Her classic song, "I Feel Love", was inducted that night as well. In 2004 and 2005, Summer's success on the dance charts continued with the songs "You're So Beautiful" and "I Got Your Love". In 2004, Summer re-recorded 'No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)' with the Irish pop band Westlife (with a live performance) for the compilation album, DiscoMania.
In 2008, Summer released her first studio album of fully original material in 17 years, entitled Crayons. Released on the Sony BMG label Burgundy Records, it peaked at No. 17 on the US Top 200 Album Chart, her highest placing on the chart since 1983. The songs "I'm a Fire", "Stamp Your Feet" and "Fame (The Game)" all reached No. 1 on the US Billboard Dance Chart. The ballad "Sand on My Feet" was released to adult contemporary stations and reached No. 30 on that chart. Summer said, "I wanted this album to have a lot of different directions on it. I did not want it to be any one baby. I just wanted it to be a sampler of flavors and influences from all over the world. There's a touch of this, a little smidgeon of that, a dash of something else, like when you're cooking."[37] On December 11, 2009, Donna Summer appeared at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert for Barack Obama.[38]
2010–present: Final recordings and posthumous releases
On July 29, 2010, Summer gave an interview with Allvoices.com wherein she was asked if she would consider doing an album of standards. She said, "I actually am, probably in September. I will begin work on a standards album. I will probably do an all-out dance album and a standards album. I'm going to do both and we will release them however we're going to release them. We are not sure which is going first."[39]
Also in 2010, Summer recorded a version of the Dan Fogelberg song "Nether Lands" for a Fogelberg tribute project. According to a comment on Fogelberg's website, the song had great personal significance for Summer.[42]
On June 6, 2011, Summer was a guest judge on the show Platinum Hit, in an episode entitled "Dance Floor Royalty". In July of that same year, Summer was working at Paramount Recording Studios in Los Angeles with her nephew, the rapper and producer O'Mega Red. Together they worked on a track titled "Angel".[43]
On December 11, 2012, after four prior nominations, Summer was posthumously announced to be one of the 2013 inductees to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,[44] and was inducted on April 18, 2013, at Los Angeles' Nokia Theater.[44]
A remix album titled Love to Love You Donna, containing new remixes of some of Summer's classics, was released in October 2013.[45] "MacArthur Park" was remixed by Laidback Luke for the remix collection; it was also remixed by Ralphi Rosario, which version was released to dance clubs all over America and successfully peaked at No. 1, giving Summer her first posthumous number-one single, and her sixteenth number-one on the charts.[46]
In 2021, Summer's estate released a reedited version of her ninth studio album I'm a Rainbow, subtitled Recovered & Recoloured. The new edition is reduced to 10 tracks (15 on vinyl and streaming releases), with each song remixed by contemporary producers and remixers.[47]
Her self-titled album was re-released in 2022 by Summer's estate subtitled as 40th Anniversary Edition.
In the mid-1980s, Summer was embroiled in a controversy when she allegedly made anti-gay remarks about the relatively new disease AIDS. Summer publicly denied ever making such comments and in a letter to the AIDS campaign group ACT UP in 1989 said it was "a terrible misunderstanding". In explaining why she had not responded to ACT UP sooner, Summer stated, "I was unknowingly protected by those around me from the bad press and hate letters. If I have caused you pain, forgive me." She closed her letter with Bible quotes (from Chapter 13 of 1 Corinthians).[51]
In 1989, Summer told The Advocate magazine, "A couple of the people I write with are gay and they have been ever since I met them. What people want to do with their bodies is their personal preference".[52] A few years later, she filed a lawsuit against New York magazine when it printed an old story about the rumors as fact, just as she was about to release her album Mistaken Identity in 1991.[53] According to a Biography television program dedicated to Summer in which she participated in 1995, the lawsuit was settled out of court although neither side wanted to divulge any details.[54][55]
Summer and her family moved from the Sherman Oaks area of Los Angeles to Nashville, Tennessee, in 1995,[59] where she took time off from show business to focus on painting, a hobby she had developed in the 1980s.
Summer's funeral service was held in Christ Presbyterian Church in Nashville, on the afternoon of May 23, 2012.[67][68] The exact location and time of the service were kept private.[69] Several hundred of Summer's friends and relatives attended the funeral, according to CNN.[68] The funeral was a private ceremony, and cameras were not allowed inside the church.[68] She was interred in the Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens cemetery in Nashville.[70][67]
Reactions
Singers and music industry professionals around the world reacted to Summer's death.[71][72]Gloria Gaynor said she was "deeply saddened" and that Summer was "a fine lady and human being".[73]Liza Minnelli said, "She was a queen, The Queen Of Disco, and we will be dancing to her music forever." She said that her "thoughts and prayers are with her family always."[72]Dolly Parton said, "Donna, like Whitney, was one of the greatest voices ever. I loved her records. She was the disco queen and will remain so. I knew her and found her to be one of the most likable and fun people ever. She will be missed and remembered."[72]Janet Jackson wrote that Summer "changed the world of music with her beautiful voice and incredible talent."[72]Barbra Streisand wrote, "I loved doing the duet with her. She had an amazing voice and was so talented. It's so sad."[72]Quincy Jones wrote that Summer's voice was "the heartbeat and soundtrack of a generation."[72]
Aretha Franklin said, "It's so shocking to hear about the passing of Donna Summer. In the 1970s, she reigned over the disco era and kept the disco jumping. Who will forget 'Last Dance'? A fine performer and a very nice person."[74]Chaka Khan said, "Donna and I had a friendship for over 30 years. She is one of the few black women I could speak German with and she is one of the few friends I had in this business."[74]Gloria Estefan averred that "It's the end of an era", and posted a photo of herself with Summer. Mary J. Blige tweeted "RIP Donna Summer !!!!!!!! You were truly a game changer !!!"[75]Lenny Kravitz wrote "Rest in peace Donna, You are a pioneer and you have paved the way for so many of us. You transcended race and genre. Respect. Lenny".[75]
Beyoncé wrote a personal note: "Donna Summer made music that moved me both emotionally and physically to get up and dance. You could always hear the deep passion in her voice. She was so much more than the queen of disco she became known for, she was an honest and gifted singer with flawless vocal talent. I've always been a huge fan and was honored to sample one of her songs. She touched many generations and will be sadly missed. My love goes out to her family during this difficult time. Love, B".[76]
David Foster said, "My wife and I are in shock and truly devastated. Donna changed the face of pop culture forever. There is no doubt that music would sound different today if she had never graced us with her talent. She was a super-diva and a true superstar who never compromised when it came to her career or her family. She always did it with class, dignity, grace and zero attitude. She lived in rare air ... She was the most spectacular, considerate, constant, giving, generous and loving friend of 35 years. I am at a total loss trying to process this tragic news."[77]
US President Barack Obama said, "Michelle and I were saddened to hear about the passing of Donna Summer. A five-time Grammy Award winner, Donna truly was the 'Queen of Disco.' Her voice was unforgettable and the music industry has lost a legend far too soon. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Donna's family and her dedicated fans."[72][78]
Summer was honored at the 2012 Billboard Music Awards ceremony. Singer Natasha Bedingfield honored Summer, calling her "a remarkable woman who brought so much light and who inspired many women, including myself, through her music. And if we can remember her through her music, this will never really be the last dance." After her statement, she began to sing "Last Dance", Summer's Academy Award-winning song.[79] As she sang the song, photos of Summer were displayed on a screen overhead.[79]
Fans paid tribute to Summer by leaving flowers and memorabilia on her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.[80] A few days after her death, her album sales increased by 3,277%, according to Nielsen SoundScan. Billboard magazine reported that the week before she died, Summer sold about 1,000 albums. After her death that number increased to 26,000.[81]
According to singer Marc Almond, Summer's collaboration with producer Giorgio Moroder "changed the face of music".[82] Summer was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach No. 1 on Billboard's album chart: Live and More, Bad Girls and On the Radio: Greatest Hits Volumes I & II. She became a cultural icon and her prominence on the dance charts, for which she was referred to as the Queen of Disco, made her not just one of the defining voices of that era, but also an influence on pop artists from Madonna to Beyoncé. Unlike some other stars of disco who faded as the music became less popular in the early 1980s, Summer was able to grow beyond the genre and 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. Summer was the first black woman to be nominated for an MTV Video Music Award. Summer remained a force on the Billboard Dance/Club Play Songs chart throughout her career and notched 16 number one singles.[83] 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)". In May 2012, it was announced that "I Feel Love" was included in the list of preserved recordings at the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry.[84] Her Rock and Roll Hall of Fame page listed Summer as "the Diva De Tutte Dive, the first true diva of the modern pop era".[85]
^Krettenauer, Thomas (2017). "Hit Men: Giorgio Moroder, Frank Farian and the eurodisco sound of the 1970s/80s". In Ahlers, Michael; Jacke, Christoph (eds.). Perspectives on German Popular Music. London: Routledge. ISBN978-1-4724-7962-4.
^Just a few weeks before Beatlemania began, The Singing Nun topped the Hot 100 with "Dominique", and the Billboard 200 with "The Singing Nun", both starting on December 7, 1963.
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Bahía Paraíso o Puerto Paraíso Ubicación geográficaContinente AntártidaOcéano océano Antártico/ océano AtlánticoCoordenadas 64°51′S 62°54′O / -64.85, -62.9Ubicación administrativaPaís Tratado AntárticoÁrea reclamada por: ArgentinaChile ChileReino Unido Reino UnidoDivisión Nombres asignados al área por los tres países reclamantes: Antártida Argentina Antártica Chilena Territorio Antártico BritánicoMapa de localización Bahía Paraís…
Marvel Cinematic Universe character Fictional character WongMarvel Cinematic Universe characterBenedict Wong as Wong in She-Hulk: Attorney at Law (2022).First appearanceDoctor Strange (2016)Based onWongby Steve Ditko Stan LeeAdapted by Jon Spaihts Scott Derrickson C. Robert Cargill Portrayed byBenedict WongIn-universe informationTitleSorcerer SupremePreceeded by: Ancient OneOccupationSorcererAffiliationMasters of the Mystic Arts Wong is a fictional character in the Marvel …
Göran TunströmGöran Tunström, 1960.BiographieNaissance 4 mai 1937Karlstad, Värmland, SuèdeDécès 5 février 2000 (à 62 ans)Stockholm, SuèdeNationalité suédoiseActivités Traducteur, poète, écrivainConjoint Lena Cronqvist (en) (à partir de 1964)Enfant Linus Tunström (d)Autres informationsGenre artistique Roman, poésie, nouvelle, récit de voyages, théâtre radiophoniqueDistinction Prix August 1998Œuvres principales L'Oratorio de Noël (Juloratoriet, 1983) Le Livre d'or des …
هذه قائمة المدن الكبرى حسب الدولة. والمدينة الكبرى الثانية يقصد بها المدينة التالية في الأهمية بعد المدينة الكبرى الأولى (العاصمة). القائمة وهران، الجزائر قرطبة، الأرجنتين ملبورن، أستراليا غراتس، النمسا أنتويرب، بلجيكا ريو دي جانيرو، البرازيل مونتريال كندا كونسيبسيون ، ت
Indonesian Movie Actors AwardsLogo IMA AwardsDeskripsiPrestasi dalam perfilman IndonesiaNegaraIndonesiaDiberikan perdana2007Situs webhttp://www.rcti.tv/imaa/Siaran televisi/radioSaluranRCTI Indonesia Movie Actor Awards (IMAA) (dahulu Indonesian Movie Awards (IMA)) adalah penghargaan bagi insan perfilman Indonesia yang dimulai sejak tahun 2007. Berbeda dengan ajang penghargaan film lain, IMA (dan juga IMAA) hanya fokus memberikan penghargaan di bidang akting para aktor dan aktris perfilman Indone…
This article is about the 2013 novel. For other uses, see black coat (disambiguation). The Black Coat 1st edition coverAuthorNeamat ImamCountryBangladeshLanguageEnglishGenreDystopian, political fiction, social science fictionPublished22 May 2013 Hamish Hamilton/ Penguin Books IndiaMedia typePrint (hardback)Pages256 ppISBN9780670086658 The Black Coat is a historical novel by Bangladeshi-Canadian author Neamat Imam. It is a meditation on power, greed and the human cost of politics.[1]…
Municipal unit in Dibër, AlbaniaMuhurrMunicipal unitMuhurrCoordinates: 41°41′N 20°20′E / 41.683°N 20.333°E / 41.683; 20.333Country AlbaniaCountyDibërMunicipalityDibërPopulation (2011) • Municipal unit2,780Time zoneUTC+1 (CET) • Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST) Muhurr is a village and a former municipality in the Dibër County, northeastern Albania. At the 2015 local government reform it became a subdivision of the municipality Dibër.&…
Argument against assuming the existence of God Part of a series onAtheism Concepts Implicit and explicit atheism Naturalism Negative and positive atheism History History of atheism Enlightenment State atheism New Atheism Society Demographics of atheism Discrimination against atheists Criticism of religion Secular ethics Secularism ArgumentsArguments for atheism Atheist's wager Creator of God Evil God challenge Fate of the unlearned Free will God of the gaps Hitchens's razor Incompatible properti…
Japanese ice hockey player Ice hockey player Aoi Shiga志賀葵 Shiga representing Japan at the 2017 IIHF World Championship D1ABorn (1999-07-04) 4 July 1999 (age 24)Hokkaido, JapanHeight 1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)Weight 58 kg (128 lb; 9 st 2 lb)Position DefenseShoots LeftSWHL A teamFormer teams HC Ladies LuganoToyota CygnusObihiro LadiesNational team JapanPlaying career 2015–present Aoi Shiga (Japanese: 志賀 葵, しが あおい, Hepburn:…
Place for the storage of human corpses awaiting identification or burial For the newspaper archive, see morgue file. Mortuary redirects here. For the type of business that provides interment and funeral services, see Funeral home. For other uses, see Mortuary (disambiguation). This article has multiple issues. Please help improve it or discuss these issues on the talk page. (Learn how and when to remove these template messages) The examples and perspective in this article may not represent a wor…
Divine beings This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: Buddhist deities – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (May 2021) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Great mandala of the Tôji imperial temple in Kyoto Part of a series onBuddhism Glossary Index Outline History Timeline The…
Systematic approach to understanding the behavior of humans and other animals Not to be confused with Behavioralism. Behavior analysis redirects here. For other uses, see Behavior analysis (disambiguation). Part of a series onPsychology Outline History Subfields Basic psychology Abnormal Affective neuroscience Affective science Behavioral genetics Behavioral neuroscience Behaviorism Cognitive/Cognitivism Cognitive neuroscience Social Comparative Cross-cultural Cultural Developmental Differential…
Gerda LernerGerda Kronstein in 1981.LahirGerda Hedwig Kronstein(1920-04-30)30 April 1920Vienna, AustriaMeninggal2 Januari 2013(2013-01-02) (umur 92)Madison, Wisconsin, U.S.PendidikanNew School (BA)Columbia University (MA, PhD)Suami/istriCarl Lerner Gerda Lerner ( lahir di Wina pada 30 April 1920 ) adalah seorang perintis dalam kajian sejarah perempuan, dan presiden pertama dalam organisasi Ahli Sejarah Amerika. Peran pentingnya dalam perkembangan kurikulum sejarah perempuan, melengkapi posi…
1976 film Caro MicheleFilm posterDirected byMario MonicelliWritten bySuso Cecchi d'AmicoNatalia GinzburgTonino GuerraStarringMariangela MelatoCinematographyTonino Delli ColliMusic byNino RotaRelease date June 1976 (1976-06) Running time108 minutesCountryItalyLanguageItalian Caro Michele is a 1976 Italian comedy film directed by Mario Monicelli. It was entered into the 26th Berlin International Film Festival, where Monicelli won the Silver Bear for Best Director.[1] Cast Mariang…
American journalist This biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living persons that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately from the article and its talk page, especially if potentially libelous.Find sources: Miriam Elder – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this template message) Mi…
Frank Wartenberg Frank Wartenberg, 1973 Medal record Men's athletics 1976 Montreal Long jump Frank Wartenberg (born 29 May 1955 in Bülzig) is a retired East German long jumper. He won the bronze medal at the 1976 Summer Olympics held in Montreal. He also won the 1973 European Junior Championships,[1] finished eighth at the 1974 European Indoor Championships[2] and fifth at the 1977 European Indoor Championships.[3] He became East German champion in 1976 representing the …