Donna Summer [1948-2012]

Artist: Donna Summer

LP: 7" single

Song: "The Woman In Me"

[ listen ]

It was sad to hear last Thursday that singer Donna Summer had died—and not just because Chaka Khan had lost one of the few black women she could speak German with either. Born in Boston on the last day of 1948 with the name LaDonna Adrian Gaines,  Donna Summer rose to international stardom in the 1970s with disco hits like "Love to Love You Baby," "Last Dance," and "I Feel Love," but she first came into my life with her finger on the trigger. It was 1982, I was 13 years old, and I thought her top-ten hit "Love Is In Control" was just about the neatest thing I'd ever heard. I also loved the "Donna Summer" LP's two follow-up singles, "State of Independence," which went to #41 on the singles charts, and "The Woman In Me," which hit #33, and which I think showcases Donna's strong, beautiful voice particularly well. Summer's moving performance of my favorite Christmas carol, "O Holy Night," on the Solid Gold Christmas Special in 1982 remains one of my fondest teenage holiday memories. You can see it for yourself on YouTube here—Donna comes on about halfway through the clip. You can read all about Donna Summer's life and career here, go here for her discography, and find the New York Times obituary for The Queen of Disco here.

Donna Summer

[December 31, 1948 — May 17, 2012]

We will miss you, Donna.