On May 17, The Queen of Disco died at the age of 63 after years of battling cancer. Donna Summer was found dead early Thursday morning in her Florida estate.
“Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith. While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraodinary life and her continued legacy. Words truly can’t express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time,” released her family on her official web page.
While many Carlmont parents and faculty mourn the death of such an iconic singer, many students remain clueless of the major loss of the music industry.
“I didn’t know Donna Summer’s music too well, but my parents always played it when I was younger, and it was fun to dance around to it,” shared Carlmont student Katrina Pahati.
LaDonna Adrian Gaines, also referred to as Donna Summer, was born in Boston, Massachusetts where she began her passion for singing in churches. As a result of her powerful voice, Summer traveled throughout Europe singing with music group FamilyTree.
Summer’s first American success was with “Love to Love You Baby,” which reached number two on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100, but some radios in the US and Europe refused to play it due to Summer’s moans and groans.
Summer was the first artist to have three consecutive albums reach number one in US Billboard chart, and also had 4 singles hit the charts in a 13-month period.
“Her voice was powerful, sexy, and sensual. She was able to bring down the walls [of segregation]! Her voice created dance!” expressed AP English teacher, Joey Hill.
In the summer of 2008, Summer released her latest album titled Crayons which peaked at number 17 in U.S. Billboard Top 200. This was Summer’s first major success since 1983.
Summer had three children, Mimi Sommer from her previous marriage to German Helmut Sommer, and two other children Brooklyn and Amanda Grace, with Songwriter Bruce Sudano with whom she was still married to.
“I always tell my students that I wish life were like a Donna Summer song because it lifted the heart, feet, and soul,” sympathized Hill.
