LaDonna Adrian Gaines (December 31, 1948 – May 17, 2012), known as Donna Summer, was an American singer, songwriter, and painter prominent during the late-1970s disco era. She won five Grammy Awards and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach No. 1 on the US Billboard 200. Summer charted four number-one singles in the US within 12 months and sold over 140 million records worldwide. She also achieved two number-one singles on the US R&B charts and one in the UK.
Summer earned 32 hit singles on the US Billboard Hot 100, with 14 reaching the top ten. Between 1975 and 1984, she had a top 40 hit each year, including 12 top ten hits from 1976 to 1982, more than any other act. Her final top ten hit was in 1989, and her last Hot 100 entry was in 1999. She remained successful on the US Dance/Club Play Songs chart throughout her career. After performing with the psychedelic rock band Crow and in the musical Hair, she moved to Europe, where she met producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. Summer returned to the US in 1975 following the success of "Love to Love You Baby" and released multiple hits such as "I Feel Love," "Last Dance," and "Hot Stuff." She was known as the "Queen of Disco" and had a global fanbase. Donna Summer died on May 17, 2012, in Naples, Florida. In 2013, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
United States
