Donna Summer

While living in Germany in the late 60s, she became a regular in the Munich production of the musical "Hair.".

Spoke fluent German.

Only person to have guest-hosted "Bandstand" (1952) .

Was the first solo artist in history to have three consecutive #1 double-albums on the Billboard charts. The only other musical act to accomplish this feat was The Beatles.

Was also an exhibited artist. She sold over $1.2 million in original art beginning in 1989; her most expensive piece sold for $150,000.

Her orgasmic 16-minute song "Love To Love You Baby" was the first extended-release single, the mother of all dance maxi-singles.

She charted 30 #1 hits (singles and albums) on the Billboard Pop/R&B,Disco/Dance, Album charts combined, over a period of 33 years.

In the summer of 1979 she became the first female artist in music history to have two hits in the Billboard Top 3 at the same time (with "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls"). She did it again in the fall with a #1 duet with Barbra Streisand and a #2 hit, "Dim All the Lights".

She and writer/producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte created an electronic, dance-driven sound that was the forerunner of todays "techno" music. Upon hearing the 1977 song "I Feel Love", Iggy Pop declared it the "future of music". Samples still continue today, most notably in Madonna s 2000 hit single "Music".

Bruce Springsteen , a great admirer of hers, wrote two songs for her. The first one, "Cover Me", he decided to use on his "Born in the USA" LP. The second song, "Protection", Donna recorded and Springsteen& band supplied the music track. Donna and Bruce actually recorded the song as a duet, but that version has never been released.

Ranked #37 on VH1s Greatest Women of Rock N Roll

Held the most ranked dance songs on VH1s 100 Greatest Dance Songs with "MacArthur Park" at #89, "I Feel Love" #76, "Love To Love You Baby" #63 and "Last Dance" at #6.

Sister of Mary Ellen Bernard and Ricky Gaines.

Cited her 1978 hit "Last Dance" as her favorite of her own past recordings.

Became a grandmother in 1997 when daughter Mimi gave birth to a baby girl, Vienna.

Daughter of Andrew Gaines and Mary Ellen Gaines.

Was one of seven children - she had 5 sisters and 1 brother.

Ranked #80 on VH1s 100 Sexiest Artists.

In 1978 she became the first female artist in history to have a #1 single ("MacArthur Park") and a #1 album ("Live and More") simultaneously on the Billboard charts. She broke her own record just a few months later when her single "Hot Stuff" and the album "Bad Girls" both reached the #1 position on the Billboard charts at the same time.

In 1979 she was nominated for five American Music Awards and won three: Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist (nominated), Favorite Soul/R&B Female Artist (nominated), Favorite Disco Artist Female (won), Favorite Disco Album: "Live & More" (won), Favorite Disco Single: "Last Dance" (won).

In 1980 she was nominated for four American Music Awards and won three: Favorite Pop/Rock Female Artist (won), Favorite Pop/Rock Album: "Bad Girls" (nominated), Favorite Pop/Rock Single: "Bad Girls" (won), Favorite Soul/R&B Artist (won).

Ranked at #24 on Billboard Magazines 50th Anniversary issue featuring the Hot 100 Artists of All Time.

Nominated in 2008 for The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame.

Has won 5 Grammy awards with a career total of 18 nominations.

She was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California.

Her grave is located in Harpeth Hills Memory Gardens, a cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.

Was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame on April 18, 2013.

Gave birth to her 1st child at age 24, a daughter Mimi Sommer on February 16, 1973. Childs father is her now ex-1st husband, Helmuth Sommer.

Gave birth to her 2nd child at age 32, a daughter Brooklyn Sudano on January 5, 1981. Childs father is her now widowed 2nd husband, Bruce Sudano.

Gave birth to her 3rd child at age 33, a daughter Amanda Sudano on August 11, 1982. Childs father is her now widowed 2nd husband, Bruce Sudano.

She was known to be a very private person.

Met musician and songwriter Nathan DiGesare in 1994. He went on to become one of Summers most frequent collaborators, both in the studio and on tour. They continued to work together until her death.

Before her death, she was believed to have caught lung cancer by inhaling toxic particles following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in New York.

Was friends with Diana Ross , Dick Clark , and Barry Manilow.

God had to create disco music so that I could be born and be successful.

Whenever success comes it is a stranger. When it knocks, it is something,you hope for, but the form it takes on when it comes, and sometimes the,moment it comes in, is so odd and so obscure.

My life was changed in one breath from God.