bickster Posted May 17, 2012 Moderator Share Posted May 17, 2012 The multi-Grammy award-winning singer died in Florida after a battle with cancer. A statement issued on behalf of her family paid tribute to the singer as "a woman of many gifts". It read: "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 extraordinary 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." The grandmother of four had numerous hits in both the 1970s and 1980s, including "Last Dance", "She Works Hard for the Money" and "Bad Girls”. The singer and her producer Giorgio Moroder are credited with defining the disco era. A spokesman for the Hot stuff singer was confirmed that she had died on Thursday morning, which was first reported by TMZ.com, the celebrity website. The website reported that the singer had tried to keep her illness out of the public eye. She believed she contracted the illness by inhaling toxic particles following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York. Summer, who was born Donna Gaines in Boston, US, learned to sing in church before fronting a series of bands and appearing in musicals. Working as a session singer brought her into contact with producers Moroder and Pete Bellotte and together they established her as one of the biggest acts of the 1970s. The extended 16-minute version of Love To Love You Baby was a huge hit in the clubs, but was banned from several radio stations because of her suggestive vocal style. The singer, who won five Grammy Awards six American Music Awards, charted three multi-platinum albums. An album released in 2008, an impeccably up-to-the-minute pop-dance CD called Crayons, featured contributions from songwriters who have penned hits for Lily Allen, Natasha Bedingfield and Shakira. In America the thumping single from the album, I'm a Fire, gave Summer a number one in the dance charts, making her the first artist to reach the slot in the Seventies, Eighties, Nineties and Noughties. “Why would I do a record that doesn't work [in the contemporary market]?” Summer told the Daily Telegraph in an interview in 2008. “I'd be just stroking myself.” She is understood to have been finalising her latest album. She was also an accomplished visual artist whose work was shown at exhibitions throughout the world. She is survived by her husband, singer and producer Bruce Sudano, their daughters, Brooklyn and Amanda, her daughter, Mimi, from a previous marriage and four grandchildren. clicky Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MMFy Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Holy ****. Never saw that one coming. Legend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blandy Posted May 17, 2012 Moderator Share Posted May 17, 2012 Was listening to her music yesterday. Cripes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bazdavies79 Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 RIP, legend, very sad. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
troon_villan Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted May 17, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted May 17, 2012 Purveyor of disco filth to the 1970s. Not really my sort of thing, but I did buy the 'Bad Girls' album (mainly for the Skunk Baxter guitar solo on 'Hot Stuff'). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted May 17, 2012 Author Moderator Share Posted May 17, 2012 There's disco and disco, she was the good sort of disco. Giorgio Moroder disco ALso didnt realise she also sang backing vocals with Three Dog Night Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
markavfc40 Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Her hey day was slightly before my time but always seen her as a bit of a legend and had a few boogies to her stuff back in the day. She'll long be remembered through her music. RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieB Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 I loved I Feel Love.. Quincy Jones.... Donna Summer..... Lazy hot weather........Ah them was the days! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bickster Posted May 17, 2012 Author Moderator Share Posted May 17, 2012 I loved I Feel Love.. Quincy Jones.... Donna Summer..... Lazy hot weather........Ah them was the days! except it was Georgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, not Quincy Jones Brian Eno whilst recording with Bowie on the Berlin Trilogy got so excited when he heard it, said that IFL was going to change the face of Club music for 15 years... if anything, he underestimated he length of time that impact would last Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
veloman Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Purveyor of disco filth to the 1970s. Not really my sort of thing, but I did buy the 'Bad Girls' album (mainly for the Skunk Baxter guitar solo on 'Hot Stuff'). Blimey ! I think 'disco filth' is a bit strong ! It was great to play and usually got the audience up on the floor. also required a definite musical 'technique'. 'On The Radio' was my favourite. RIP Didn't know Jeff Skunk Baxter (of Steely Dan) played that solo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RussG Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 RIP to a true legend, people still sample THAT bassline today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
maqroll Posted May 17, 2012 Share Posted May 17, 2012 Really sad news. Growing up in Boston in the 70's, there was extra excitement about her because she was from here. She was just a huge figure in pop music for that brief late 70's era. I can't say I was a true fan, cuz rock music was my thing, but she was respected by even the hardest rock fan, because she was a natural talent with a kick ass voice. She was a real class act, and she'll be missed. R.I.P. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieB Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 except it was Georgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte, not Quincy Jones I didn't mean that I feel Love WAS anything to do with Quincy Jones at all. I was passing comment that I loved his music as well as Donna Summers.. of the same era If I hear "I feel love"................ I also remember "Stuff like that" I know what I mean anyhow Bicks if no one else does. I vaguely remember I liked Steely Dan....and Earth Wind & Fire too - Went to see them live. Complete paradox to Disco... I also am reminded of my absolute favourites of 10CC & Pink Floyd when I think of Donna Summer music. Just remember the 70s early 80s as hot summers, disco & going to secondary school. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Rev Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 Tune! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
villadude Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 I was DJin the other week and dropped 'I Feel Love' in for my last track, the room went nuts, still sounds as good now as it did when I first heard it all those years ago. RIP Disco Queen, very sad news Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mjmooney Posted May 18, 2012 VT Supporter Share Posted May 18, 2012 Just remember the 70s early 80s as hot summers, disco & going to secondary school.I remember the early 80s as Margaret Thatcher, crap music and getting married. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JulieB Posted May 18, 2012 Share Posted May 18, 2012 I remember the early 80s as Margaret Thatcher, crap music and getting married. I got married in the 80s too and yes I remember Margaret Thatcher and the awful look after No 1 culture of short term greed she embodied... Welcome to Broken Britain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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