Donna Summer, known in her heyday as "The Queen of Disco," died of breast cancer at her Key West, Florida home, on May 17. She was 63.
Even for those of us who hated disco, Donna Summers was special. She was the sexiest voice and presence in the genre, but also a tremendous singer who was in a league of her own. Possessor of range actually wider than her official mezzo-soprano, and lucky enough to have been in the right place at the right time (working with red-hot producers like Giorgio Moroder), she reigned supreme at discotheques worldwide and became the first artist to have three consecutive number one double albums. In a span of 13 months, she had four number ones, thanks to the success of MacArthur Park, Hot Stuff, Bad Girls, and "No More Tears (Enough is Enough)," her duet with Barbra Streisand.
The winner of five Grammy Awards, according to Billboard she was the eighth most successful female recording artist in history. She was nominated to the 2010 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, but not chosen. However, her induction is a matter of time: her impact in the music world was just too great. — Enrique Lopetegui
