1949-
Singer, Songwriter

Europe.

Born Ladonna Gaines in the Boston area, Donna Summer got her first taste for singing in her church choir. Her idols ranged from gospel legend Mahalia Jackson to rock singer Janis Joplin, and soon Summer was singing with a local rock band. Dropping out of high school, she headed to Europe, where she appeared in the German production of Hair. Summer sang and acted in other European musicals and performed regularly with the Vienna Folk Opera. In Munich in 1975 writer-producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellote tapped Summer to record a hot new disco-based number, which was released later that year in the United States. "Love to Love You Baby" became an instant classic, most notably because of Summer's repeated orgasmic moans. The song was featured as the title track on her debut album and helped launch the disco revolution.

Range.

Summer specialized...