R.I.P. Donna Summer: Boston Born

She was born LaDonna Gaines in Boston on 12/31/48 and passed away today 5/17/12 succumed to lung cancer contracted from fumes & particles inhaled at 9/11 in NYC that started her downward spiral. From 1975-1982 she was the Queen of Disco and you couldn't go into a club during that time without hearing one of her jams. "Bad Girls", "Hot Stuff", "On the Radio", "Last Dance", "Love to Love You Baby" were just some of her chart toppers. She starred in 1979's "Thank God It's Friday" with The Commodores & Jeff Goldblum. She is survived by three lovely daughters. Now Whitney has someone with whom she can perform a duet. Thank You Donna Summer. I'll never forget you.

MD!

Good call, MD. I hadn't known that 9/11 started her demise. Donna was one of the really good ones...and a great ambassador for disco. Thanks and peace, Donna.

Sam

Donna Summer, the 1970s pop singer known as the Queen of Disco, has died of lung cancer, an illness she believes she contracted from inhaling toxic particles released after the September 11 terrorist attacks in New York.

The 63-year-old singer, who had hits including Hot Stuff, Love to Love You, Baby and I Feel Love, died in Florida on Thursday morning.


She had largely kept her battle with lung cancer out of the public eye. But the website TMZ reported that the singer had told friends she believed her illness was the result of inhaling toxic dust from the collapsed Twin Towers.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/9273396/Queen-of-Disco-Donna-Summer-thought-she-became-ill-after-inhaling-911-particles.html

From TMZ:

9:27 AM PST- TMZ has learned ... Donna died from lung cancer. Several sources are telling us Donna believed she contracted it by inhaling toxic particles after the 9/11 attack in New York City.

http://www.tmz.com/2012/05/17/donna-summer-dead-last-dance/

God Bless Her, she had a wonderful voice

She went to junior high in Mattapan. I taught at her school quite a few years after she left. She was a beautiful person, and I loved to dance to her tunes. What a contribution she made to life on planet Earth.

Although disco may not be the best style for this song, I think her version of La Vie En Rose https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hFhduXupTjs is great!