Donna Summer Her Life and Music

 

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Donna Summer Her Life and Music

Josiah Howard

Tiny Ripple Books (US) 2003

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Written by Josiah Howard

Donna Summer - Her Life and Music
by Josiah Howard

Publisher Description

Donna Summer - Her Life and Music
By Josiah Howard (Tiny Ripple Books)

Donna Summer dominated the American and European pop charts in the 1970s with dance music classics such as “Last Dance,” “Love To Love You Baby,” “I Feel Love,” “Hot Stuff,” and “Bad Girls” – earning her the title “Queen of Disco.”  In a career which has now spanned four decades, she has sold over 100 million records worldwide, won five Grammy Awards, scored twenty Top 40 hits, and collaborated with musical giants such as Barbra Streisand, Bruce Springsteen, and Quincy Jones.

Donna Summer: Her Life and Music is the first book in over twenty years to examine this extraordinary performer’s life and career.  Author Josiah Howard provides in-depth, insightful coverage of:

• The artistic and commercial high points of her recording career, including her groundbreaking 1970s hits recorded with producers Giorgio Moroder and Pete Bellotte
• Her pre-superstardom stage and recording work in Europe
• The carefully conceived image manipulation that she and her record company employed to make her the biggest star to emerge from the disco genre
• Her largely overlooked success as a songwriter, which includes many of her own hits, and even a #1 country hit recorded by Dolly Parton
• Controversies which have surrounded her, including her becoming a Born Again Christian at the height of her career, and an antagonistic relationship with the gay community in the 1980s

This chronicle and analysis of Donna Summer’s triumphs and setbacks – both professional and private – paints the definitive picture of an artist who overcame adversity, pushed musical boundaries, and created a catalog of innovative recordings that  helped define an era. CLICK HERE to order your copy.

Observations

"Donna Summer - Her Life and Music" offers up plenty of information on the Queen of Disco. The author begins by giving us a brief glimpse into her childhood and then continues the journey through her time in Germany and her subsequent return to the US. Notes on all her releases as well as concert and television appearances are included.

While a great read for new Donna Summer devotees, I doubt long-time or hard core fans will find anything new here. Part of this stems from the fact that Donna Summer was not interviewed for the book as she apparently refused. At its core the book cites earlier published interviews and then goes into synopses of each of her US and European releases.

Overall, the book is a quick read and gives the reader a good idea of Donna's career along with a small amount of black and white photos.

About the Authors

Josiah Howard is an avid film and popular music fan.  Following graduation from New York University, he spent two years as Photo Researcher at Parade magazine.  His writing has appeared in Village Voice, Record Mirror, Archetype, and Washington Square News.  Donna Summer - Her Life and Music is his first book.

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