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The “Queen of Disco” Donna Summer was born in the Dorchester neighborhood of Boston in 1948. “Love to Love You Baby” was released in 1975 and became the single that would catapult Summer to international disco stardom. #APeoplesJourney #SmithsonianMusic #APeoplesGroove 
The 17-minute long track, featuring Summer repeating the title lyrics in her signature ethereal vocal style, reached no. 2 on the American pop chart, becoming a disco standard. Summer would go on to release a string of hit disco and pop albums in the next decade #SmithsonianMusic
Her 1979 album Bad Girls, however, showcased Summer’s notable ability to transcend the disco genre - in addition to her pop sound, Summer also incorporated R&B, soul, and even rock influences into what would become the most successful album of her career. #SmithsonianMusic
The album’s lead single “Hot Stuff” showcased rock influences, while the title track illustrated the best of Summer’s pop abilities. Both songs rocketed to the top of the charts, Summer became the first female artist to have two songs in the top three of the @billboard Hot 100.
Samples of Summer's legendary sound can be heard in Beyoncé's 2003 hit, "Naughty Girl" and Lizzo's "Fitness" (2018). #APeoplesGroove #SmithsonianMusic #BlackMusicMonth
