I have just heard on our news that Donna Summer has passed away. She died after a long fight with cancer. I doubt it's a hoax as she was on our midday news (New Zealand).

She was born Adrienne LaDonna Gaines on Dec 31 1948 and passed away on May 17 2012. She was born in Boston Massachusetts.

She was known for her distinctive voice and enjoyed several very large hits from the mid 70s to late 80s. Her most well know tracks are the Steamy Love to love you baby (1975), I feel Love (1977), Macarthur Park (1978), Bad Girls, Hot Stuff, Dim all the lights, Enough is enough and on the Radio (1979) and She works hard for the money (1983).

Its cruel to label her a disco artist as she was so much more, she first starred in a German production of Hair in 1969 and it was there she met Helmut Sommer and married him adopting his name. After they divorced in the mid 70s she changed it to Summer and it stuck.

Donna Summer had a large gay following which she nearly isolated in 1983 after saying "AIDS was sent by God to punish homosexuals" This was after she became born again in 1982, but in 1989 she apologised for the remark and has gained her reputation back. In 2008 she released her last album Crayons. Donna was still appearing occasionally before she died. She will be missed and she was 63.

Mods please sticky this if you haven't

Posted earlier:

http://prince.org/msg/8/381364

dupe thread

See http://prince.org/msg/8/381364