One of the greats is gone. Donna Summer died of cancer this morning in Florida, according to reports. The Queen of Disco was 63.
Summer was born and raised in Boston, and first sang in her church’s gospel choir. She went on to perform in the touring production of “Hair,” and met producer/songwriter and electronic music pioneer Giorgio Moroder in 1974.
About “I Feel Love,” the synth-driven club anthem she recorded with Moroder in 1977, Brian Eno said at the time: “This is it, look no further. This single is going to change the sound of club music for the next 15 years.”
The singer who went on to win five Grammys ascended to diva status in the seventies with hits like “Love to Love You Baby,” “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff,” “MacArthur Park,” and “Bad Girls.”
Two must-listens today: This Fresh Air interview with Summer, and this Tavis Smiley interview on NPR, both in 2003 when she was promoting her memoir, Ordinary Girl: The Journey.
Donna Summer with Giorgio Moroder in the mid-1970s, via soundonsound.
(Thanks, @drdawkins09)