Donna Summer Dies at 63

BY Alex HudsonPublished May 17, 2012

Donna Summer, one of the disco era's most widely recognized icons, reportedly died today (May 17) after losing a battle with cancer. She was 63.

According to TMZ, the singer was in Florida at the time of her death.

The Boston-born Summer was a multiple Grammy winner whose performing career dates back to the 1960s. She found success during the disco explosion of the 1970s and scored several massive hits, starting with 1975's "Love to Love You." This song sparked Summer's collaboration with pioneering disco producers Giorgio Moroder and Bellotte, who helped her to create era-defining tracks like "I Feel Love," "Heaven Knows," "MacArthur Park," "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls" and "Dim All the Lights."

She continued to find success in the 1980s with hits like "She Works Hard for the Money," "Unconditional Love" and "Love Is in Control (Finger on the Trigger)." Her output slowed during the 1990s, and 2008's Crayons was her first album of original material in close to two decades. She continued performing until close to the end of her life, and was reportedly working on new material.

Summer is survived by husband Bruce Sudano and daughters Brooklyn, Amanda and Mimi. The singer's representatives have yet to release an official statement.

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