ladonna adrian gaines, the undisputed “queen of disco”,  was born in boston, massachusetts on december 31, 1948

donna was raised on gospel music, and at the age of 10, became a soloist in her church choir

"there was no question i would 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" - the associated press 1989

a little known fact, donna began her musical aspirations as a soul singer, but influenced by Janis Joplin, dropped out of school in the late 1960s to become a rockstar

she moved to europe to pursue music and musical theatre

by 1974, she released her debut album, in europe, “lady of the night,” but she didn’t become the donna summer we know and love until her u.s. debut with “love to love you baby” in 1975

the following years, becoming the voice of the disco era with three consecutive hits "live and more," ''bad girls" and "on the radio"

she was also the first female artist with four No. 1 singles in a 13-month period, according to the rock hall of fame

“summer's music gave voice to not only a musical revolution, but a cultural one - a time when sex, race, fashion and drugs were being explored and exploited with freedom like never before in the united states” - mesfin fekadu for jacksonville.com

summer’s name is synonymous with disco during the 1970s with her hits “last dance” and grammy winning “hot stuff”, and even through the 1980s with women’s rights anthem “she works hard for the money"

she released her final album in 2008, titled “crayons” before retiring for good. 

a wife, a mother, a friend, a superstar, a legend, an icon

the beautiful donna summer

read more at blackpast.org