Donna Summer Dead at 63 After Cancer Battle

It is a sad day for disco. Donna Summer, the gospel-trained, Grammy-winning diva whose voice was inescapable from the radio to the dance floor in the 1970s, ’80s, and beyond, has died at the age of 63 after a battle with cancer. Nicknamed “the Queen of Disco,” the Boston-born Summer rose to fame with a string of mid-70s hits like “Last Dance,” and “Love To Love You Baby,” which showcased not only her powerful voice but also the high-concept production of songwriting collaborators Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte. Her recording career lasted through following decades in part due to Summer’s shrewd choices—leave disco as the form was going out of style and returning to dance music later to retain her early fans. TMZ reports the singer passed away in Florida, and was working on finishing a new album.