Donna Summer (1948-2012): Disco Survivor

Cover of Donna Summer

The disco era of the 1970s was a time when people stepped out in their polyester and in their platform shoes, dancing to a hypnotic beat while caught up in a lifestyle of mirror balls, casual sex and drug abuse.  The rich and famous frequented clubs such as Studio 54 in New York all night long.  Ordinary folks listened to disco-formatted radio stations, and made "Saturday Night Fever" (the movie and soundtrack) huge successes.

Disco was hounded out of existence by those who thought the music was too artificial and robotic, as well as being too popular (in their view) with gays and African-Americans.  That attitude resulted in cries of "disco sucks", and incidents such as the infamous "Disco Demolition Night" at a Chicago White Sox baseball game.

Into all this came Donna Summer, whose collaboration with record mogul Neil Bogart and producer Giorgio Moroder resulted in 1975's "Love To Love You Baby".  Seventeen minutes of simulated moaning (the BBC counted 23) made her a star.

Then Summer's reign as Queen of Disco (a title she said she never liked) continued with hits like "Bad Girls", "Hot Stuff", "Last Dance" (from the movie "Thank God It's Friday"), and a duet with Barbra Striesand called "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)".  Summer had four singles that topped the Billboard charts, three Number One albums, and five Grammy awards.

In the post-disco era of the early 1980s, Summer continued her hitmaking with "The Wanderer" and "She Works Hard For The Money".  Then she became a born-again Christian, getting into hot water for allegedly making disparaging remarks against gays--her biggest fans--during the AIDS epidemic, which she denied.

Donna Summer, the biggest star the disco era ever produced, died at her Florida home Thursday from cancer.  She was 63.

Contrary to popular belief, disco is still with us, though it's now called "dance music".  The mirror ball and the polyester may be gone, but the music lives on through Madonna, Lady Gaga, sampling club DJs and others.  And so will Donna Summer.