JustElementalMusic: Episode 17 by Richard Bamford on Mixcloud

DEFINITION OF DISCO

In November 1975, a breakthrough single and voice emerged that would change a genre and who in the words of Quincy Jones would become ‘…the heartbeat and soundtrack of a decade’. The single was ‘Love to Love you baby’ the creation of Giorgio Moroder, Pete Bellotte and the lady who would go on to be crowned the ‘Queen of Disco’ Donna Summer (born Ladonna Gaines).

It was at the tender age of 10 as she stood in for the vocal lead of her church choir, that Summer is said to have known that one day her voice, far beyond her age and tiny frame, would make her a star.  In subsequent years since her 1975 smash hit, the first of nineteen No.1’s, she would go on to achieve numerous accolades including the first artist to achieve three consecutive double albums to reach No.1 on the US Billboard chart.

Like many musical greats before and since, her career and life were not without controversy, even losing fans, particularly amongst the gay community, for her comments regarding AIDS (which she later denied). Summer also had a well-documented struggle with depression, anxiety and at one time prescription drugs, of which she found salvation in Christianity.

There is no mistaking that she was truly a one off, who did things in her own way and according to Pete Waterman in “Donna time”. Refusing to remain in her “Queen of Disco” box, she was unafraid to experiment and diversify her sound, earning her a string of awards including the first African American women to be nominated for an MTV video award (1984) and first black artist to win a Grammy in the rock category (1980), she would go on to win five Grammys in total - proving without a doubt her reach and influence spanned far beyond the world of sequins and glitter balls.

Since news broke of her tragic loss against her secret battle with cancer, tributes from the great and the good of music have flooded in. Gloria Estefan beautifully encapsulated the sentiment of all who morn her by proclaiming, “Few singers have impacted music and the world like Donna Summer! It’s the end of an era…”

Summer’s unmistakable sound and genre defining hits such as ‘I Feel Love’, said to be a ‘key record in the history of electronic dance music’, completely changing the way that music was perceived, has been sampled by artist as far ranging as Madonna and Whitney Houston to Moloko and David Guetta. As recently as 2011, Summer re-recorded her 1975 debut for fashion brand Diesel’s ‘Lovedose’ advertising campaign.

Just as her family celebrate ‘her extraordinary life and her continued legacy’ so will the world and music fraternity.  Donna Summer defined an era and a genre, her influence and records remains as Elton John put it, “…as good today as they ever did” and for that, she was, is and will always remain the very definition of disco. 

The Just Elemental Music Radio Show:15 (Vinyl Special)

The Just Elemental Music Radio Show:15 (Vinyl Special)