Curtain call for Donna Summer, all-round superstar

Summer who passed on Thursday morning leaves behind a legacy of innovative dance music amongst which are her hits, ‘Hot Stuff’, ‘Last Dance’, ‘She Works Hard for the Money’ and ‘Bad Girls’. She emerged in the music industry when disco was gaining popularity and she became known for her song-bird voice and danceable music. Summer […]

Summer who passed on Thursday morning leaves behind a legacy of innovative dance music amongst which are her hits, ‘Hot Stuff’, ‘Last Dance’, ‘She Works Hard for the Money’ and ‘Bad Girls’. She emerged in the music industry when disco was gaining popularity and she became known for her song-bird voice and danceable music.

Summer first rose to fame the mid-’70s, thanks to “Love to Love You Baby.” The song, with Summer’s whispered vocals and orgasmic groans helped define the mid-’70s disco trend and hit No. 2 in 1976. Summer followed the song with such hits as “I Feel Love,” “Last Dance” and a disco-fied version of the Richard Harris hit “MacArthur Park,” which outdid Harris’ version by hitting No. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 singles chart. It was Summer’s first of four chart-toppers.

Top flight nostalgia act? Disco diva? Sex symbol for past generations? Donna Summer is described as much more than these. Apart from being the most innovative and influential pop female stylist to have emerged in the 7Os, Donna is a complete, versatile and original artist who’s still capable of competing with new trend setters and being at the same time a sophisticated, traditional kind of vocalist.

In her long and varied career, Donna worked with John Barry, Bruce Springsteen and Barbra Streisand, and sung tunes written by Jimmy Webb and Vangelis. She also wrote and co-wrote most of her enviable repertoire. Even after the disco era she continued to be successful in music. Proving her versatility, Summer received five Grammy awards for her music in several categories.

According to her website, Summer has showed us that in music there ought to be no place for fences. She lost her battle with cancer at 63 leaving behind her husband, two daughters and four grandchildren. She will be remembered for her pulsing anthems which became the soundtrack for a glittery age. She is the only act in the world to have won a Grammy award in the Rhythm & Blues, Rock, Inspirational and Dance categories.