Mom's Minute

Donna Summer 1948 - 2012

Donna Summer, born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on December 31, 1948, died on May 17, 2012 at her home in Key West, Florida after a courageous fight with cancer.  She was 63 years old.  Known as the Queen of Disco, Donna Summer won 5 grammy awards and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach number 1 on the U.S. Billboard charts.  In 2004, Donna Summer was inducted in the Dance Music Hall of Fame.

Donna Summer personified the disco era with such hits as "The Last Dance,"  "Bad Girls" and "Hot Stuff."  During the 1980's, and even now it's difficult to say "disco" without saying "Donna Summer" in the same breath.

Another Donna Summer hit, "She Works Hard for her Money," could describe Donna Summer's career to a "T".  She pushed out hit after hit in the 1970's and 1980s and continued onward.  Before her passing, she was working on another album.

Interesting enough, one of her most well known disco songs, "The Last Dance," did not start off as a single.

The song was from the movie, "Thank God It's Friday" in which Donna Summer acted.  The song caught on and  catapulted to reach number 3 on the Hot 100 chart and resulted in Donna Summer winning her first grammy award.

Donna Summer was as charitable as she was talented.  She spent the next few years singing at different charity benefits and events.  She performed at the Nobel Peach Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway in 2009 in honor of President Barack Obama,  and appeared in the PBS television special,"Hitman Returns: David Foster and Friends" in 2010, singing a medley with Seal.  She   closed the show with  her disco classic, "The Last Dance."

Donna Summer performs at the Nobel Peace Prize Concert in Oslo, Norway in 2009 

She appeared in television, movies, radio and other media.  However she left her indelible signature on the disco era.  Even though she  stated she grew up on "rock and roll", she eventually came to realize that she was a true Queen, one that expands the disco music genre and beyond.

Donna Summer is survived by her husband, singer and producer Bruce Sudano and their two daughters, Brooklyn and Amanda and her daughter Mimi from a previous marriage.

Upon announcing Donna Summer's passing, her family issued a statement saying they are "at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and her continued legacy."