Donna Summer – Always a Disco Diva

Today, Donna Summer tragically lost her battle against lung cancer. Initially using the stage name Donna Gaines, her first hit single ‘Love to Love You Baby’ became the breakthrough of Donna Summer. The single peaked at No.2 on the Hot 100 in 1975, while charting in the UK a year later (reaching No.4).

Donna Summer earned one UK No.1 throughout her career – ‘I Feel Love’ in 1977. According to the news site TMZ, the singer was recording new material. My favorite Summer track is ‘This Time I Know It’s for Real,’ the hit written and produced by UK production team Stock-Aitken-Waterman.

In Sweden, Donna Summer had two No.1’s – ‘Last Dance’ (1978) and the duet with Barbra Streisand from 1979, ‘No More Tears (Enough Is Enough).’

Expect a surge in interest for Donna Summer’s music, to date she has earned 4.1m spins via Last.fm. By far, ‘Hot Stuff’ was her most popular with 23,085 plays ahead of ‘I Feel Love.’

According to Dagens Nyheter, the singer was raised by Christian parents who interested her to gospel and classical music.

‘This Time I Know It’s for Real’ spent 14 weeks on the UK Top 40, peaking at No.3.

DONNA SUMMER FACTS

• Donna Summer released 17 studio albums and 89 singles.

• The singer placed no less than four singles atop the Hot 100, managing to achieve 20 Top 40 singles.

• As Donna Gaines, ‘Sally Go Round the Roses’ was released as a single in 1971. It has also been recorded in French dubbed ‘Rose (Parmi les roses).’

Listen to:

• Donna Summer – To Paris With Love
• Donna Summer – Crayons