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GenX Gon Give It To Ya is ultimately about spreading love and bridging generations. I’m broadening connections while scoopin up some old friends along the way. We’ll reminisce on tv, movies, music, entertainment and events that helped form our culture cause the bond is deep!
Come Play!
(0:05 - 0:15)
Welcome back to another episode of Gen X Gon' Give It To You. If you are new, thank you for
blessing me with your presence. And if you liked the episode, tell your friends, they deserve this
dopeness too.
(0:15 - 0:27)
And don't forget to hit that like and subscribe button. For today's episode, I asked my higher
self, which should my next episode be? I felt like it should be a musician this time. Whose voice
did I love hearing? So many to choose from.
(0:27 - 0:33)
Then Donna Summer popped in my head. The queen of disco? Hell yeah. I asked Spirit to give
me confirmation.
(0:33 - 0:39)
Later when I got home, I decided to watch Cold Case. I watched one episode. Then the next
one, which was titled Daniella.
(0:40 - 0:47)
The episode would begin with Donna Summer singing Bad Girls. And just like that, I got my
confirmation. It had only been a few hours.
(0:47 - 0:54)
The universe is always talking to us. You just gotta figure out how it does for you. That takes
patience, dedication, trial and error.
(0:55 - 1:03)
Anyway, introducing Donna Summer. Let's get into it. Donna Adrienne Gaines was born
December 31st, 1948 in Boston, Massachusetts.
(1:03 - 1:12)
She has five sisters and one brother. Her father Andrew Gaines was a butcher and her mother
Mary a school teacher. Her parents went back and forth if they would name her LaDonna or
Donna.
(1:12 - 1:22)
Donna appears on her birth certificate, but her nickname was LaDonna growing up. LaDonna
actually means the lady that sings. Donna grew up in a tight-knit religious upbringing.
(1:23 - 1:37)
Donna loved to sing and credits Mahalia Jackson being her inspiration. Donna and her family
attended and sang in the choir at Grant AME Church in Boston. When she was 10, she was
invited to sing a solo after another vocalist got sick and didn't show up.
(1:37 - 1:48)
She had been practising and asked God to make her a better singer. They were amazed at the
voice that came out of her little body. In the AME biography Donna Summer from 1995, she
recalled speaking to God.
(1:48 - 2:01)
She knew she was given something powerful and to never abuse it. From that moment in
church when she sang I Found the Answer, I Learned to Pray by Mahalia Jackson, she knew she
would be famous. Family and community were very important in the Gaines household.
(2:01 - 2:11)
Their home became the neighbourhood hangout. Donna explains in a 1978 interview with Rona
Barrett that she lived among Italians, Orientals, Blacks, and Whites. They were all in her
neighbourhood.
(2:12 - 2:23)
Her parents often took in kids and helped raise them. At one point, the family lived in a threestory building with cousins and other family members occupying other floors. She mentions a
time when a kid called her the N-word.
(2:23 - 2:30)
And before she knew what happened, Donna leapt off the stairs. She was on that kid and
beating his ass. Then so did the rest of the kids.
(2:30 - 2:44)
Donna attended Jeremiah E. Burke High School in Boston. She joined theatre and began
performing in musicals, which led to her becoming popular among other students. It was
around this time that Donna began to rebel by sneaking out of the house to go to parties and
perform in nightclubs.
(2:45 - 2:58)
Her parents' strict upbringing couldn't contain the spirited future queen of disco. Her father
Andrew admitted to being strict, but also admits to Donna getting away with more than the
other kids. Her brother Richard would say it was because she always had an alibi.
(2:59 - 3:07)
When Donna was 17, she joined the band Crow. She would be the only female and only Black
member. They wanted her to be the Black Janis Joplin.
(3:07 - 3:18)
One day while cutting class, Donna witnesses some boys attacking an older lady. After being
left unconscious, Donna gives her CPR till medics arrive. The lady dies and Donna gets word
that the police were looking for witnesses.
(3:18 - 3:31)
She was hesitant to come forward at first, but knowing it was the right thing to do speaks to
police. She gives the names of those involved, they are arrested, and she testifies. Though the
boys were sent to prison, the family feared retaliation from others.
(3:31 - 3:46)
Three weeks before graduation, she moves to New York with her new band Crow. So besides
the move beginning the start of her professional career, it got her out of potential danger. The
songstress spent the summer of 1968 living in Greenwich Village, hanging out in parks, and
playing with the band at night.
(3:46 - 4:01)
While adjusting to New York City life, Donna went to an audition to replace Melba Moore in the
musical Hair. After learning that, of course I was reminded of the talented Melba Moore and
shall do an episode dedicated to her. This audition would get Donna a gig with the show's road
company.
(4:02 - 4:11)
She would play Sheila in the German production of Hair. Donna always had dreams of going to
Europe, so this was perfect. She would become fluent in German and within a year join the
Viennese cast.
(4:11 - 4:29)
This opportunity would lead her to join the Vienna Folk Opera, appearing in productions of
Porgy and Bess and Show Boat. In 1968, record company Polidor releases Donna Summer's
first single under her family name Donna Gaines, which is sung in German. The song is called
Wassermann.
(4:30 - 4:44)
It was the German version of the song Aquarius. In 1969, her second single, If You Walk Alone,
is released on Phillips Records. In 1971, she remakes the 1963 hit Sally Go Round the Roses,
originally sung by the Jaynettes.
(4:44 - 4:59)
She would go on to provide background vocals for Areola Records as well as performing in The
Me That Nobody Knows in 1972. It was around this time that she would meet and fall in love
with Austrian actor, Helmuth Sommer. They would work on a couple of productions together
such as Godspell.
(5:00 - 5:06)
Then they got married in 1973. Soon after, she became pregnant with their daughter, Mimu.
One day, she is not feeling well.
(5:06 - 5:19)
Helmuth rushes her to the hospital. A doctor informs her that she needs to take better care of
herself or she will miscarry. Donna and Helmuth decide it's best if they move in with Helmuth's
parents while she remains on bed rest for the rest of her pregnancy.
(5:19 - 5:28)
After Mimi is born, Donna falls into a deep depression. This wouldn't be the first time. Donna
has been burdened with insecurity, trauma, and depression since childhood.
(5:28 - 5:36)
When she was seven, she was cut on her cheek where a large gas remained. It left a scar that
made her feel ugly. She was teased for years.
(5:36 - 5:50)
Sometimes she would wear wigs to try and hide it. The experience is so traumatic she began to
wet the bed, slipping into further depression while developing an obsessive need for
perfection. Donna also revealed that she was molested by her minister as a child.
(5:50 - 6:01)
She would see a therapist until she was 16. As an adult, she attested therapy helping her
develop a sense of humanity and a strong desire to prove herself. Now in adulthood, the
depression was back.
(6:01 - 6:09)
She didn't feel she was prepared to be a mother. Because Helmuth worked so much, she was
the sole caretaker of Mimi. She didn't sing or go out or do anything anymore.
(6:10 - 6:21)
In her autobiography, Ordinary Girl, The Journey, she says that a dear friend, Anna, helped her
a lot. Anna taught her how to bathe and get Mimi to fall asleep. Anna was helping Donna get in
a better place mentally.
(6:21 - 6:34)
Donna felt it was best if her and Helmuth separated for a while. Donna moves in with Anna who
introduces her to an artist friend, Gunther. They would become good friends and even though
he were also married, they would end up having an affair.
(6:34 - 6:44)
Helmuth eventually finds out and they would divorce. Gunther was sometimes an angry drunk
and Donna did try to get away from him a few times. She was more afraid to be alone though.
(6:44 - 7:04)
Even after kicking in her bathroom door, slapping her around, throwing her into a glass
cabinet, she continued to see him even after reaching worldwide success. 1974, Donna was
working as a part-time model and background vocalist. At a session with Three Dog Night, she
would meet Pete Bilotti and Giorgio Morodo.
(7:04 - 7:16)
They were so impressed by her vocals that they signed her to their label, Oasis. There was a
print error on her first single, Hostage. Instead of her last name being spelled S-O-M-M-E-R, it
was spelled S-U-M-M-E-R.
(7:17 - 7:27)
That's how Donna Summer was born. The singles they recorded were successful. However, they
lacked professional promotion and marketing so relied on themselves to stop at radio stations,
plugging the company and Donna.
(7:27 - 7:39)
Things would take a complete turn when the producers play her a song that didn't have any
lyrics yet. Initially as a joke, she wondered how Meryl Monroe would sing it. She made up a sexy
voice and made up lyrics as she went along.
(7:39 - 7:48)
No surprise the producers liked what they heard. Love to Love You was released in Europe in
1974. Neil Bogart of Casablanca Records got word of the song.
(7:48 - 8:04)
While discussing Love to Love You on the Merv Griffin Show, the record label president explains
how the record didn't really sell in Europe. So he brought it here to the U.S. He continues to say
that it didn't pop as expected till about a month later. He was having a party and played the
record.
(8:04 - 8:15)
After it was over, someone asked him to play it again and then again. That's when he realised
the 3 minute 20 second song was too short. He went upstairs, called the producers and told
them to make a 20 minute version.
(8:16 - 8:29)
He continues to explain that the next day, they got some radio stations to play it at midnight
and promote it as 20 minutes of love. The extended version would end up being 16 minutes
and 49 seconds. They also made a slight name change.
(8:29 - 8:43)
Love to Love You was now Love to Love You Baby and history was made. When she returned
home to the U.S. November 1975, Donna was already a star. The song would become Donna
Summer's first Billboard Hot 100 peaking at number 2 on the chart.
(8:44 - 8:58)
The album which came soon after would also go gold for selling over 1 million copies in the U.S.
alone. As popular as it was, it also had its share of people who were offended by the racy lyrics.
Some European stations refused to play it and it was banned by the BBC.
(8:59 - 9:15)
Even some stations in America refused to play it. Even Reverend Jesse Jackson was so perturbed
that he used his group Operation Push, People United to Save Humanity, to rally against the
song and other releases that were subjective in lyrics. He believed it would lead to an increase
in teen pregnancy.
(9:15 - 9:29)
This did not stop the song's success, nor Donna's ascension to superstardom, nor fans. Men
and women were disrobing and throwing their clothes and panties on the stage. Her world
became enmeshed in press, limos, parties, and fans.
(9:29 - 9:44)
She was expected to keep the sex goddess character she created when she made appearances,
which she grew to resent because it really wasn't who she was. She feared she'd get a
reputation for selling sex and not for being a talented vocalist. Donna admits to having to
adjust to being a celebrity.
(9:44 - 9:55)
She learned to become aware of her surroundings because fans would rush her and be in
places she would least expect. It became difficult to do little things like take her daughter to the
park. Some people were becoming creepy.
(9:55 - 10:08)
It was all becoming unbearable. Donna said her success came with intense psychological and
physical pressure. Her ex-husband tried to get custody of their daughter Mimi because she was
always working, which was a valid argument.
(10:08 - 10:17)
They decided it would be best if she went to live with Donna's parents. That way they knew
she'd be loved and nurtured and safe. 1976, Donna developed bad anxiety.
(10:17 - 10:23)
She would explain that she felt God would never forgive me because I failed him. I was
decadent. I was stupid.
(10:24 - 10:30)
I was a fool. I just decided that my life had no meaning. So while staying at the Navarro Hotel,
decide she's gonna end it all.
(10:30 - 10:39)
She heads to the window, putting one foot on the sill. Thankfully, it gets tangled in the drapes.
As this is happening, housekeeping enters the room, which prevents her from following
through.
(10:39 - 10:52)
Donna would later say, if she'd come 10 seconds later, I'd be gone. Donna would go see a
therapist within 24 hours. The therapist explained culture shock and helped her understand the
impact that type of stress can have on anybody.
(10:52 - 11:07)
She also prescribed meds to help her focus, which turned out to be a double-edged sword
because the meds made it hard to fall asleep. It would be a couple of years before she'd decide
medication wouldn't solve her issues. She leaned into her relationship with God by becoming a
born-again Christian.
(11:08 - 11:21)
1977, Donna meets singer Bruce Saldano of the music group Brooklyn Dreams. There is an
immediate attraction, but both were in a relationship. Donna was still seeing the volatile
Gunther, so they remained professional, working on songs with the group.
(11:21 - 11:37)
One day while hanging out with Saldano and the rest of the band, she came home to Gunther
questioning where she had been. She is quoted as saying, Before I could say anything, he
grabbed me, threw me against the wall, and proceeded to slap me around. He threw me into
the laundry room where he continued to beat me up.
(11:37 - 11:44)
I fell into a heap, and Gunther disappeared. After a moment, he returned with a gun in his
hands. Gunther was charged with assault, then was deported.
(11:45 - 11:59)
She would also say, Battered, bruised, and beaten nearly to death, I realised that God had come
to my rescue again. She decided to take some time to heal. 1978, after finding out Saldano had
broken up with his girlfriend, went to him and professed her love.
(11:59 - 12:12)
They began dating and on July 16, 1980, were married. Donna released the album, I Remember
Yesterday. It would feature top 10 I Feel Love, peaking at number 6. In the UK, it would become
her first and only number one single.
(12:12 - 12:31)
It would also reach number one in Australia, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands. The song
became known for laying down foundation for electronic dance music influencing talents like
David Bowie, The Human League, Blondie, and Kylie Minogue. I Feel Love was added to the
Library of Congress in 2011.
(12:31 - 12:38)
Singer Sam Smith does a cover, and I'm curious to hear it. I love his voice. Beyonce also samples
it on her song, Summer Renaissance.
(12:39 - 12:52)
1978, we see Donna Summer on the big screen in the disco-themed movie, Thank God It's
Friday. When I heard the song as a child, I just knew I was listening to an angel. And every time
I hear it to this day, I stop whatever I'm doing to join in.
(12:52 - 13:10)
Thank God It's Friday didn't impress critics such as Robert Ebert, who gave it 1.5 stars, or Gene
Siskel, who also gave it 1.5 stars. But Donna did impress, with some calling her presence
electrifying and charming. It made $7.3 million on a $2.2 million budget, and remains a cult
classic.
(13:10 - 13:29)
The cast would include Jeff Goldblum, Deborah Winger, Hilary Landsberg, who would go on to
play Doris in the TV show Fame, handsome Raymond Vitt, whom we lost to soon, and the
Commodores. You can check it out on Tubi. On November 11, 1978, Donna earned her first
number one single on Billboard Hot 100 with the remake of MacArthur Park.
(13:29 - 13:42)
Originally by Jimmy Webb. On the same day, Donna's first live album, Live and More, topped
the Billboard 200. On January 12, 1978, Donna's seventh studio album, Bad Girls, was released.
(13:42 - 13:53)
With the changing times, it had a rocker edge to it, and was met with success from the very
beginning. The first single, Hot Stuff, became a number one song. Bad Girls would remain the
number one album for six weeks.
(13:53 - 14:10)
It would sell four million albums worldwide, with over two million sold in the U.S. At the time, it
was the most successful album by a black female. Later that year, she would collaborate with
Barbra Streisand on her wet album with the hit, No More Tears, Enough Is Enough. The single
would do over two million in sales.
(14:10 - 14:21)
Donna soon releases the single, Dim All The Lights, which peaked at number two. Donna was
upset that Neil Bogart refused to promote Dim All The Lights correctly. It is said he was more
enthusiastic about the promotion of Enough Is Enough.
(14:21 - 14:34)
This would lead to a sever in the relationship between Donna and Casablanca Records. In
October 1979, a compilation album titled, On The Radio, Greatest Hits Volumes 1 and 2 was
released. It would feature remixes from some songs.
(14:34 - 14:49)
The new song on the album, On The Radio, was also featured on the movie soundtrack to the
film, Foxes, starring Jodie Foster, which reached number five. The album would also go
platinum. Donna Summer would get her own TV special on January 27, 1980, called the Donna
Summer Special.
(14:49 - 14:59)
That aired on ABC. It is around this time that Donna yearned to try new genres of music,
opposed to sticking with the limits imposed by Casablanca. Disco was on the decline.
(14:59 - 15:13)
She signed a deal with David Geffen at Geffen Records. Donna would go on to file a lawsuit
against Casablanca later in 1980. The lawsuit was for over $10 million and targeted label
president Neil Bogart and her former manager, Joyce Bogart.
(15:13 - 15:32)
Donna would allege that the contracts from 1977 to 1979 were the result of undue influence
and misrepresentation. The lawsuit was eventually settled, allowing Donna to leave Casablanca
and pursue her career independently. On January 5th, 1981, Donna gives birth to her second
daughter they would name Brooklyn.
(15:32 - 15:41)
I'm sure it's a homage to his group, Brooklyn Dreams. Things didn't go so well at Geffen
Records. Donna, with producers Moroder and Bellati, began working on the album.
(15:41 - 15:53)
One day, Geffen stopped by to the studio to listen to the almost complete project. After
listening to a few songs and demos, felt it wasn't good enough, so cancelled the project. It
would be shelved and not released until 15 years later in 1980.
(15:53 - 16:06)
It would be titled I'm a Rainbow, which received no promotion whatsoever. It's like it just
appeared one day. Instead of I'm a Rainbow, Geffen insisted Donna's music should be geared
more for black audiences, so links her up with Quincy Jones.
(16:07 - 16:32)
The self-titled album was released July 19th, 1982, a month before her daughter Amanda was
born. The album Donna Summer peaked in the top 20 and the single Love is in Control, Finger
on the Trigger makes top 10. Can you say systematic racism? We can't have rainbows? Later
that year, David Geffen learns that Donna still needs to complete one more album to fulfil her
contract with Casablanca, now owned by Polygram Records.
(16:32 - 16:45)
That album would be She Works Hard for the Money. The song would peak at number three. It
would receive a Grammy nomination and would become the first video by a black woman to
play on MTV with heavy rotation at that time.
(16:45 - 17:02)
In 1983, a writer for The Village Voice named Jim Feldman wrote an article alleging that at one
of her shows, she made the statement, it's Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve. And I've seen
the evil homosexuality come out of you people. This is a result of your sins.
(17:02 - 17:08)
Now, don't get me wrong. God loves you, but not the way you are now. I can't even imagine her
saying that.
(17:08 - 17:22)
She denied ever saying that while mentioning how many friends she'd lost to the disease. In
1989, the AIDS activist organisation ACT UP protested at the Boston Pride Parade during her
performance. She sent them a letter asking for forgiveness.
(17:22 - 17:32)
Naturally, people questioned what took her so long to address the issue, which is a fair
question. Donna replies that she had given birth to her two daughters and was busy with life.
So many questions.
(17:33 - 17:44)
I haven't found any definitive proof if she said it. September 11th, 1984, Without Claws is
released and peaks at number 40 on the Billboard 200. It would be the first time one album
doesn't go gold.
(17:45 - 18:03)
On January 19th, 1985, Summer sings at the 50th Presidential Inaugural Gala for Ronald
Reagan. In September 1987, the album All Systems Go is released, becoming the lowest
charting album, reaching 120. The next album, Another Place in Time, would be shelved once
again by Geffen.
(18:03 - 18:12)
I don't know what's up with that guy. Donna would part ways with the label. Because she was
still on the Warner Brothers record label in Europe, the album was released March 1989.
(18:12 - 18:33)
The single, This Time I Know It's For Real, became a top 10 success in other countries. This
achievement motivated Atlantic Records, who was Warner Brothers' sister company, to sign
Donna in the U.S. The song peaked at number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100. In 1990, the
compilation The Best of Donna Summer goes gold after the release of the single State of
Independence.
(18:33 - 18:41)
August 23rd, 1991, Fake An Identity is released. It would be Donna's 15th album. It is
considered a commercial failure and didn't chart.
(18:41 - 18:55)
The single, When Loves Cry, New Jack Swing Ballad reaches number 77 on the Billboard Hot
100. 1992, Donna receives a star on the Walk of Fame. She also reunites with Giorgio Moroder
on the song Carry On.
(18:55 - 19:07)
In 1994, she releases her first holiday album titled Christmas Spirit. Also in 1992, she appears
on an episode of Family Matters as Urkel's aunt. She would return for another episode in 1997.
(19:07 - 19:21)
In 1999, she would be given a concert special for VH1 called Donna Summer Live and More
Encore. It would become the second highest viewed show for VH1. A live album was produced
featuring two additional songs, I Will Go With You and Love is the Healer.
(19:22 - 19:35)
Both singles reach number one on the U.S. dance charts. In 2000, she contributed to VH1's third
Divas Live special, which was a dedication to Diana Ross. The Queen would sing the Supremes'
number two hit, Reflections.
(19:35 - 19:52)
She also sang the theme song she wrote for the movie, Pokemon the Movie 2000. In 2003, her
autobiography, Ordinary Girl, The Journey is released, as well as another best of album, The
Journey, The Very Best of Donna Summer. Donna is also inducted into the Dance Music Hall of
Fame.
(19:52 - 20:06)
Her song, I Feel Love, was also inducted. Donna stayed on the dance charts in 2004 and 2005
with You're So Beautiful and I Got Your Love. Her next album of all new material was 2008 titled
Crayons.
(20:06 - 20:16)
It would chart at number 17 on U.S. Top 200 album chart. August 2010, she releases the single
To Paris With Love. It climbed to number one on the U.S. Billboard dance chart.
(20:16 - 20:25)
On June 11, 2011, Donna appears as a guest judge on the show Platinum Hit. The woman never
stopped working. She was a true Capricorn.
(20:25 - 20:39)
On May 17, 2012, Donna passes away from throat cancer. Because she didn't smoke, she was
convinced it was caused by the fumes and dust that blanketed New York City during the 9-11
attacks. She was staying at her apartment near Ground Zero at the time.
(20:39 - 20:54)
Some theorised it could have been due to her smoking when she was younger, as well as being
exposed to secondhand smoke. Either way, we lost a legend, a true pioneer, someone that was
cherished throughout the planet. You hear me? Donna Summer was everything.
(20:54 - 21:04)
So I dedicate this episode to her and I hope that it did her justice. We miss you, we love you,
and you forever will be great. You're just great.
(21:04 - 21:10)
Here are some quotes from the iconic singer. I don't care if I'm beautiful. I don't care what I am
on the outside.
(21:10 - 21:19)
It isn't about the outside. God had to create disco music so I could be born and be successful.
You've got to maintain your level of self-esteem through everything.
(21:20 - 21:34)
You are who you are and nobody will ever be able to take that away from you if you don't let
them. Nobody wants you to stop, obviously, because you're a money-making machine, but you
have to make the decision and you have to move forward. So I took time off to have babies and
do all that.
(21:34 - 21:47)
My life was changed in one breath from God. While I'll say I have an incredible ability to
fantasise, I really do. I don't have to have things tangible to be able to see them and therefore I
enjoy so many things because they're in my mind.
(21:47 - 21:52)
I want a private life. I truly do. I'm not just pretending to want one like lots of celebrities.
(21:52 - 22:06)
I don't keep a press agent because I think people need to have a break from you. On the day of
Donna Summer's passing, just like many of us, many celebrities went to social media to express
their condolences. Janet Jackson wrote, We will miss Donna Summer.
(22:06 - 22:15)
She changed the world of music with her beautiful voice and incredible talent. Elton John wrote,
I'm so sad. This woman was the queen of disco and so much more.
(22:15 - 22:25)
Her records sound as good today as they ever did. That she was never inducted into the Rock
and Roll Hall of Fame is a total disgrace. Especially when I see the second-rate talent that has
been inducted.
(22:25 - 22:35)
She is a great friend to me and to the Elton John AIDS Foundation. And I will miss her greatly.
Dolly Parton wrote, I can't believe we lost another wonderful singer.
(22:35 - 22:43)
Donna, like Whitney, had one of the greatest voices ever. Mary J. Blige wrote, Rest in peace
Donna Summer. You were truly a game changer.
(22:43 - 22:49)
Natasha Benningfield wrote, Just heard that Donna Summer died today. This is awful. She was
so incredible.
(22:49 - 22:57)
Her and her family are some of the most beautiful people. Kylie Minogue wrote, One of my
earliest musical inspirations. Rest in peace Donna Summer.
(22:57 - 23:06)
Bad girls forever. Jaleel White wrote, Aunt Oona from Altoona will be missed. Donna Summer
one of the best guest stars I've ever worked with.
(23:06 - 23:11)
Naya Rivera wrote, Oh no, we've lost another legend. Rest in peace Donna Summer. So sad.
(23:11 - 23:20)
Fergie wrote, Another one of my vocal idols has passed. Rest in peace Donna Summer. Solange
tweeted, Donna Summer, you have inspired me in so many ways.
(23:20 - 23:25)
Billy Ray Cyrus wrote, Rest in peace Donna Summer. Legend. Your music will live forever.
(23:25 - 23:38)
Aretha Franklin said, So shocking to hear about the passing of Donna Summer. In the 1970s,
she reigned over the disco era and kept the disco jumping. Who will forget Last Dance? She was
a fine performer and a very nice person.
(23:38 - 23:49)
Barbara Streisand said, I'm shocked to hear about the death of Donna Summer at 63. Who
never let on to the public that she was so sick. She was so vital the last time I saw her a few
months ago.
(23:49 - 23:54)
I loved doing the duet with her. She had an amazing voice and was so talented. It's so sad.
(23:54 - 24:05)
Here's some little known facts about Donna Summer. Donna Summer is the only music artist to
host American Bandstand, which was at the height of the disco phenomenon. She accidentally
walked into her hit Hard For The Money.
(24:05 - 24:13)
She walked into a bathroom to powder her nose one evening. She saw an exhausted attendant
sleeping and burst out. She worked hard for the money.
(24:13 - 24:19)
She instantly knows it's gonna be a hit. She turns to her manager. Get a pencil, toilet paper,
paper towel.
(24:19 - 24:29)
She knew she had to write down what was flowing through her at that moment. Donna had a
farm with all types of animals. In 1983, Donna goes back to Boston and gets her high school
diploma.
(24:29 - 24:40)
She had a premonition about 9-11 attacks a month before they occurred. She was living in New
York City at the time. Donna was in a relationship with artist Peter Madolfer from 1975 to 1979.
(24:40 - 24:56)
This too was an abusive relationship. Peter once beat her unconscious, leaving her with a black
eye and broken ribs. He appears in the documentary Love To Love You, Donna Summer,
produced and directed by her daughter Brooklyn Sedano and Academy Award winner Roger
Ross Williams.
(24:56 - 25:12)
In the documentary, he admits, well sort of, to the abuse by saying, I hit her and I never could
forgive myself. Have you learned to keep your hands to your damn self, Peter? There is a
musical based on Donna's life called Summer, the Donna Summer Musical. It would feature
many of the Queen of Disco songs.
(25:13 - 25:30)
It opened on Broadway April 28. In 2022, Norwegian Cruise Line announces its at-sea tour of
the musical aboard the Norwegian Prima. Sio Kasha, manager of Donna's Summer Enterprises,
tells a story of how she discovered that Donna also had an artistic flair for painting.
(25:30 - 25:40)
The two women were hanging out and they had gotten bored, so decided to spend some time
working on side hobbies. Sio worked on her needlepoint and Donna her painting. After a while,
Sio headed to bed.
(25:41 - 25:55)
Donna stayed up and when Sio woke in the morning, she was shocked to see a bunch of
canvases she described as coming to life. This leads Donna to having four or five art exhibits a
year. Her first oil painting sells for $38,500.
(25:56 - 26:06)
Her art is explained as music for the eyes. It was important for her to get the essence of how
she felt on canvas. Here's a list of Donna's nominations, awards, and accolades.
(26:06 - 26:50)
In 1978, she is nominated by the Golden Globe for Best Original Song, Deep Down Inside for
the movie The Deep. She has been nominated for a Grammy 18 times, winning in 1979 for Best
Female Vocal Performance for Last Dance, in 80 Best Female Rock Vocal Performance for Hot
Stuff, 1984 Best Inspirational Performance for He's a Rebel, 1985 Best Inspirational
Performance for Forgive Me, 1998 Best Dance Recording for Carry On that she shares with
Giorgio Moroder. In 1979, she wins three American Music Awards, one for Favourite Disco
Song, Last Dance, another for Favourite Disco Album for the album Live & More, for Favourite
Female Disco Artist.
(26:50 - 27:12)
In 1980, she would again win three American Music Awards for Favourite Pop Rock Song for
Bad Girls, Favourite Pop Rock Artist, and Favourite Pop Rock Album for Bad Girls. Donna would
be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2013, a year after her passing. Learning
about the intricate private life of Donna Summer leaves us with questions we may never get the
answers to.
(27:12 - 27:29)
Many times that's just how it goes. I'm just happy the First Lady of Love was blessed with such
an immense talent and never stopped sharing her gift with the world. Coming up on the next
episode of Gen X Gon' Give It To Ya, I'll revisit some of the educational shows from childhood
that taught us how to read and write through various characters and performers.
(27:29 - 27:38)
Shows like Sesame Street, Electric Company, Zoom, Schoolhouse Rock, to name a few. Be sure
to tell your friends and to tune in. And don't forget to hit that subscribe button.
(27:38 - 27:38)
Peace.