Donna Summer (born LaDonna Adrian Gaines, December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012) was an American singer, songwriter, and actress—widely celebrated as the “Queen of Disco.” She was one of the most influential artists of the 1970s and a key figure in shaping modern dance and electronic pop music.
Summer rose to global fame with the 1975 hit “Love to Love You Baby” and the groundbreaking electronic track “I Feel Love” (1977), often cited as the origin of synth-pop and techno. She was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach No. 1 on the Billboard 200. She achieved four No. 1 singles within a single year (1979).
Beyond disco, she excelled in rock, R&B, and gospel. She was the first Black artist to win a Grammy for Best Rock Vocal Performance, Female (for “Hot Stuff” in 1979). Following the “disco backlash,” she successfully transitioned into new wave and pop, releasing the working-class anthem “She Works Hard for the Money” (1983).
Summer sold an estimated 100 to 140 million records worldwide. A five-time Grammy Award winner, she was posthumously inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2013. She was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award by the Recording Academy in 2024.
In December 2025, she was posthumously inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, recognizing her work co-writing 8 of her 10 biggest hits.
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