As the King of Pop or Soul Queen, Donna Summer was fitting given the title of musical royalty - the Queen Disco.
But unlike Michael Jackson or Aretha Franklin, it was nominated, it was not easy to embrace.
"I grew up on rock 'n' roll," Some once said when explaining her reluctance to claim the title.
But unlike Michael Jackson or Aretha Franklin, it was nominated, it was not easy to embrace.
"I grew up on rock 'n' roll," Some once said when explaining her reluctance to claim the title.
Indeed, as disco boomed then collapsed on the decade in 1970, summer, beautiful voice and face of the brand with pulsating hits like "I Feel Love" "Love to Love You Baby" and "Last Dance" would continue to do hits incorporating rock roots, she loved it. One of the biggest hits of her, "She works hard for the Money" came in early 1980 and rely on smoldering guitar solo as well as the booming voice of summer.
But there was a disco anthems of her that she would have the greatest influence on music, and that's how it was remembered Thursday as news spread of her death at age 63rd
Some died of cancer Thursday morning in Naples, Fla., said her publicist Brian Edwards. Her family issued a statement saying they "are in peace celebrating her extraordinary life and continue her legacy."
Luminaries from Aretha Franklin to Dolly Parton and Barbra Streisand mourned the loss, as did Barack Obama, who said he and Michelle were saddened to hear of the phrase five-time Grammy winner. "Her voice was unforgettable as the music industry has lost a legend too soon," he said. "Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family of Donna and dedicated fans."
It had been decades since a short, prominent moment when summer was every inch the Disco Queen.
Glimmer of her gowns and long eyelashes. Luxury hair and her shiny, open lips. Her sultry vocals, her bedroom moans and sighs. She was as much a part of culture balls discos, polyester, platform shoes and pulsing music, heavy rhythm.
Some music gave voice to not only a musical revolution, but the cultural one - a time when sex, race, fashion and medicine was to explore and exploit the freedom like never before in the United States.
The increase was inseparable from her moody disco itself, even though it was popular for many years after the model she helped found dead. She won a Grammy for best rock vocal performance of "Hot Stuff" with fiery guitar-based song that represented a change from her disco to more rock-based sound, and other Anthem with "She works hard for the Money" this time women's rights.
Elton John said in a statement that the summer was more than the Queen of Disco.
"Her records sound as good today as they ever did. It has never been inducted into the Hall Roll rock 'n' of Fame is a real shame especially when I have second-class talent that has been inducted," he said. "It's a great friend to me and the Elton John AIDS Foundation and I will miss her a lot."
Some may not want the title and later became a born-again Christian, but many remember her best for the early years, beginning with the flesh, "Love to love you baby."
Released in 1975, a breakthrough hit for the summer and disco, it was a myth of ecstasy studio and the ultimate in sexual species is the National Anthem. Some came up with the idea of the song and recorded it as a first trial in 1975, provided that another singer to perform it for commercial purposes. But Casablanca Music President Neil Bogart liked the song so much that he suggested to the producer Giorgio Moroder they're taking it and doing it anymore -. "Disco Drive" what would come to be known as
Some had doubts about the lyrics - "Do it to me again and again" - but imagine it like a movie star playing a part as she was Marilyn Monroe. So she agreed to sing, lying on the studio floor in the darkness, and let her imagination take over. Solo and multi tracked, she whispered, her time, she crooned. Drums, bass, strings and keyboards answered her cries. She reportedly highlighted so many times that the BBC kept Count: 23 in 17 minutes.
What began as a scandal was a classic. The song was later sampled by LL Cool J, Timbaland and Beyonce, who added a hit for her jam, "Naughty Girl." There was also some U.S. Chart debut and the first of 19 No. 1 dance hits between 1975 and 2008 - just another Madonna.
Summer, real name LaDonna Adrian Gaines, was born in 1948 in Boston. She grew up on gospel music and became a soloist in her church choir by age 10.
"There was no question I'd be a singer, I just always knew. I had credit in my neighborhood, people would lend me money and tell me to pay it back when I got famous," Summer said in a 1989 interview with The Associated Press .
Before disco, she had already reinvented itself several times. She sang Motown songs with local groups in Boston as a teenager, then dropped out of school at the end of 1960 and turned into rock pyschedelic to hear Janis Joplin. Trying to get involved in the musical "Hair" brought her to a major role in Munich. She was in Germany for five years, worked in other manufacturing and settlement.
At the same time she was performing in operas, singing backup for Three Dog Night and other groups and releasing tracks on her own. A marriage to Helmuth Sommer does not last, but the singer did keep the last name of her former husband, change to "summer." In 1974 she met producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte and released their first album of her, "Lady of the night," to succeed in Europe.
Then came "Love to love you baby," her debut U.S. memorable. With the rest of the disco era, it burned up the charts: it was the only artist to have three double-LPS No. 1 hit, "Live and more," "Bad Girls" and "Radio". She was also the first female artist with four No. 1 singles in the 13-month period, according to the Rock Hall of Fame, where she was nominated this year but was passed over.
Musically, she began to change in 1979 with "Hot Stuff", which was hard, rock 'n' roll beat. A wide range of sounds it helped her win the Grammy Awards in dance, rock, R & B and inspirational categories.
Some said, grew up on a roll Rock 'n' and later covered the Bruce Springsteen song "protection."
"I like the Moody Blues, Beatles and the Rolling Stones and Aretha Franklin and Dionne Warwick, the Supremes and temptations," she said. "I did not know many white kids who do not know the Supremes, I do not know many black kids who do not know the Moody Blues."
Warwick said in a statement that it was sad to lose a great performer and "Dear friend."
"My heart goes out to her husband and her children," Warwick said. "Prayers will be said to keep them strong."
Some later became a born-again Christian and was accused of making anti-gay comments in relation to the spread of infection - a special problem for the woman who was and still is gay icon. Some refused to comment, but became the target of boycott.
Religion played an important role in later life, said Michael Levine, who briefly served as her publicist.
"Her passion in her life, besides music, was God, spirituality and religion. She held Bible study class at her home every week," he said.
Some out of her last album, "crayons," in 2008. It was her first full album in 17 years. She did the "American Idol" this year with the top female contestants.
Summer is survived by her husband, Bruce Sudano and three daughters, Brooklyn, Mimi and Amanda.
