For other people with the same name, see Donna Summer (disambiguation).

Donna Summer (born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on December 31, 1948) is an American Grammy Award-winning singer best known for a string of disco music hits in the 1970s that earned her the title "Queen of Disco" and also one of the few disco artists to have longevity on the charts into the late-1980s. Summer was a rarity in the 1970s disco scene because her career began before the disco explosion and continued afterward. Even though she is one of the best-known artists of the disco era, Summer has covered different genres including R&B, rock and roll and gospel music, earning her Grammy Awards in those categories. Her work is still critically acclaimed, and she remains one of the few disco artists accepted by modern rock critics.

Biography

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Early life and career

Born in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Summer began performing in her church's choir at the age of ten. She later joined a rock group called Crow. A few months before graduating from high school, Summer dropped out and joined the German productions of Hair, Godspell, and Show Boat over the next few years. She eventually settled in Europe, joining the Viennese Folk Opera and participating in numerous musicals.

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NYT > Music

The New Season | Pop Music: Keeping It Indie but Thinking Big Thoughts
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:36:56 -0000
While TV on the Radio has been working its way up from independent to major label and from local clubs to international tours, its music has grown ever more ambitious.
The New Season | Classical Music: Prime Berths for Composers Still at Work
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 16:38:22 -0000
This season, major institutions are showcasing pieces from living composers in ways that provide them with context and galvanize public attention.
No City Opera? Try Some Alternatives
Sat, 06 Sep 2008 20:02:32 -0000
Some opera companies are savvy enough to try to capitalize on City Opera’s closing during renovations to its New York State Theater home.

NPR Topics: Music

Tom Russell: 'Who's Gonna Build Your Wall?'
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 13:47:00 -0400
Singer-songwriter Tom Russell lives in El Paso-Juarez, which sits right on the border between Texas and Mexico. When he heard about the new wall going up between the two countries, he realized that all cheap labor on the border is done by illegal immigrants. So he wrote a song that asks an obvious question.
Joan Baez: Playing For 'Tomorrow'
Sun, 07 Sep 2008 05:16:00 -0400
Joan Baez's sterling voice, the songs she sings and her commitment to society's underdogs have had a profound influence on American culture. Baez talks about her new record, Day After Tomorrow, and performs songs from the album at NPR's New York studio.
Two Soul Men, Reunited For The First Time
Mon, 01 Sep 2008 06:00:00 -0400
Steve Cropper shaped the Memphis soul sound as a guitarist and songwriter for Stax Records. Felix Cavaliere fronted the hit-making group The Rascals. They ran in the same music circles for decades, but only now have they made their first album together.

Ultimate-Guitar.Com [News]

Muse Not Ready To Record New LP
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:39:54 -0000
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Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:35:14 -0000
Alice In Chains will enter the studio in October to begin recording its first all-new studio effort since 1995's self-titled third album.
Warrior Soul's 'Chinese Democracy' Due In October
Fri, 05 Sep 2008 13:28:40 -0000
Warrior Soul, the band fronted by legendary singer Kory Clarke, announced that it has selected "Chinese Democracy" as the title of its new album.

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