Donna Summer photos

Donna Summer was born on New Year's Eve, 1948, in Boston, Massachussetts, and would become the "Queen of Disco."  (Photo by Chris Walter/WireImage)

Performing in the 70s. (Photo by Richard E. Aaron/Redferns)

The "Queen" with the First Lady and President, circa 1976. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

At home in Los Angeles, Summer poses for then boyfriend Peter Mühldorfer, with whom she began having an affair with after leaving first husband Helmuth Sommer. She had met Sommer while acting in Godspell in Austria, and partially retained his surname for the rest of her life. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

An M.C. Escher-type moment of self-contemplation.

Attracting the affections of another Austrian, Summer gets a lift from the future governor of California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Summer with daughter Mimi, who holds a copy of her album A Love Trilogy which was released on March 18, 1976. Mimi was born to Summer and Helmuth Sommer in 1973. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

Summer poses for an album cover session on May 16, 1978 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry Langdon/Getty Images)

Performing onstage as Nicole Sims in a still from the movie Thank God It's Friday at the fictional nightclub 'The Zoo' which was released on May 19, 1978 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

B side of the 33 for Hot Stuff, the first single release from her Bad Girls album, which won Summer the Grammy for Best Female Rock Vocal Performance in 1980. (Photo by Apic/Getty Images)

Summer with the group Brooklyn Dreams, who she would collaborate with on their biggest hit Heaven Knows, circa 1979. Another collaboration, Summer's marriage to Brooklyn Dreams singer Bruce Soldano, would last until her death. (Photo by Harry Langdon/Getty Images)

Leather pants - must be the dawn of the 1980s. With Soldano on stage in 1979. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

With Olivia Newton John and Rod Stewart during A Gift of Song UNICEF Concert rehersals - January 9, 1979 at the UN in New York City. (Photo by Ron Galella/WireImage)

Can you believe it? In the days before entourages and legions of personal assistants Summer has to do her own grocery shopping. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

The King of Pop and the Queen of Disco are united in 1982. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

With Mimi in 1982.  (Photo by Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images)

Back to the familiar setting of disco balls and smoke machines, performing at the Gibson Amphitheater in Universal City, California. (Photo by Michael Schwartz/WireImage)

With devoted husband Bruce Sudano during Donna Summer Meets Broadway's 'Jersey Boys' - November 16, 2005 at The August Wilson Theater in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic)

With synthesizer pioneer/genius and collaborator Giorgio Moroder and songwriter/collaborator Pete Bellotte at Giorgio Moroder's Surprise Birthday Party at Spago on April 26, 2010 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Stefanie Keenan/WireImage)

Performing with producer/composer David Foster during the David Foster and Friends concert at the Mandalay Bay Events Center October 1, 2011 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Donna Summer, December 31, 1948 - May 17, 2012.