The Guardian World News: Donna Summer dies of cancer at 63

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Donna Summer dies of cancer at 63 May 17th 2012, 16:26 Winner of five Grammy awards, disco queen had a string of hits in the 1970s, including Love to Love You Baby Donna Summer, a singular vocal stylist whose string of disco hits spawned five Grammy awards and a following that has long outlived the genre, has died at age 63 of cancer. Summer, a native of Dorchester, Massachusetts, died Thursday in Florida, according to the showbiz website TMZ, which first reported the news. A family statement later confirmed the death. Born LaDonna Adrian Gaines, Summer broke into the music business in her early 20s as a backup singer for the soul group Three Dog Night. Her first hit, Love to Love You Baby, reached the No 2 spot on the Billboard charts in 1976. The string of hit singles that followed – Could It Be Magic, Last Dance, Hot Stuff – revolutionised 1970s disco. She went on to win five Grammy awards. Summer's acting career included an appearance in Thank God It's Friday (1978), for which she performed her hit Last Dance. The song won Summer her first Grammy. Summer had been living in Nashville, Tennessee. She had three daughters and four grandchildren. Donna Summer Pop and rock United States Florida Tom McCarthy Tom McCarthy guardian.co.uk © 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved. | Use of this content is subject to our Terms & Conditions | More Feeds Media files: Donna-Summer-in-1979-At-T-003.jpg (image/jpeg) Donna-Summer-in-1979-At-T-008.jpg (image/jpeg)

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