Donna Summer's Biography

LaDonna Adrian Gaines (born December 31, 1948), known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. Summer is a five time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach number one on the US Billboard chart. She also charted four number-one singles in the US within a thirteen-month period.

Early Life and Career

Born on New Year's Eve 1948 in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts, Summer was one of seven children raised by devout Christian parents. Influenced by Mahalia Jackson, Summer began singing in the church at a young age. In her teens, she formed several musical groups including one with her sister and a cousin, imitating Motown girl groups such as The Supremes and Martha and the Vandellas in Boston.

In the late 1960s, Summer was influenced by Janis Joplin after listening to her albums as member of Big Brother and the Holding Company, and joined the psychedelic rock group the Crow as lead singer. Beforehand, Summer dropped out of school convinced that music was her way out of Boston, where she had always felt herself to be an outsider, even among her own family who ridiculed her for her voice and her looks. The group was short-lived, as they split upon their arrival in New York. In 1968, Summer auditioned for a role in the Broadway musical, Hair. She lost the part of Sheila to Melba Moore. When the musical moved to Europe, Summer was offered the role. She took it and moved to Germany for several years. While in Germany, she participated in the musicals Godspell and Show Boat. After settling in Munich, she began performing in several ensembles including the Viennese Folk Opera and even sang as a member of the pop group FamilyTree – "invented" and created by the German music producer Guenter "Yogi" Lauke & the Munich Machine. She came to the group in 1973 and toured with the 11-people pop group throughout Europe. She also sang as a studio session singer and in theaters. In 1971, while still using her birth name Donna Gaines, she released her first single, a cover of "Sally Go 'Round the Roses", though it was not a hit. In 1972, she married Austrian actor Helmuth Sommer and gave birth to their daughter Mimi Sommer in 1973. Citing marital problems caused by his frequent absences, she divorced him but kept his last name, changing the "o" to a "u".

Awards and Recognition

One NAACP Image Award.

One time Juno Award nomination for Best Selling International Single,"I feel Love".

Three Multi-Platinum albums in the US.

Eleven of her albums went Gold in the US.

Twelve Gold singles.

Six American Music Awards.

She was the first female African American to receive an MTV Video Music Awards nomination. ("Best Female Video" and "Best Choreography" for "She Works Hard For The Money")

Academy Award for Best Original Song "Last Dance".

Two Golden Globe Award nominations (one win for "Last Dance" Song and one nominated for "The Deep" John Barry's Song).

Summer has received five Grammy Awards.

1979 – Best R&B Vocal Performance (Female), Last Dance

1980 – Best Rock Vocal Performance (Female), Hot Stuff

1984 – Best Inspirational Performance, He's a Rebel

1985 – Best Inspirational Performance, Forgive Me

1998 – Best Dance Recording, Carry On

Twelve Grammy Award nominations (total of seventeen).

1979 – Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female), MacArthur Park

1980 – Album of the Year, Bad Girls

1980 – Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female), Bad Girls

1980 – Best R&B Vocal Performance (Female), Dim All the Lights

1980 – Best Disco Recording, Bad Girls

1981 – Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female), On the Radio

1982 – Best Rock Vocal Performance (Female), Cold Love

1982 – Best Inspirational Performance, I Believe in Jesus

1983 – Best Rock Vocal Performance (Female), Protection

1983 – Best R&B Vocal Performance (Female), Love is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)

1984 – Best Pop Vocal Performance (Female), She Works Hard for the Money

2000 – Best Dance Recording, I Will Go with You (Con te Partiro)

Summer placed a Top Forty hit on the Billboard Hot 100 in every year from 1976 ("Love to Love You Baby") to 1984 ("There Goes My Baby").

Summer was the first artist to score three consecutive number-one double albums.

Summer was twice honored by the Dance Music Hall of Fame; once with her induction as a recording artist and again with the induction for her influential single "I Feel Love".

Summer's music career has landed her as the eighth most successful female recording artist in history according to Billboard[citation needed].

Summer's career span of Billboard number-one Disco/Club Play hits spans from 1975's "Love to Love You Baby" through 2010's "[To Paris With Love]".

Summer was nominated for 2010 induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame but was not chosen