One might wonder why a eulogy to the Queen of Disco would appear on a site devoted to rock and roll, but Rock Rips is devoted to rock in all its forms. Did you know that she won the Grammy award for best female rock vocal performance in 1979 for her song "Hot Stuff?" (It's only 1 of 5 Grammy awards to her credit.) The song featured a guitar solo from Jeff Baxter, formerly of the Doobie Brothers and Steely Dan. Travel back 8 years and listen to her vocals on "Sally Go Round the Roses" from 1971 and you can hear her style already developing, the same style she'd be known for years later. Also present is the heavy groove which seemed to follow her through her career.
Born in Boston, Summer was known for being shy in her private life, and she eventually retired from music. She died May 17th at her home in Florida from lung cancer. Although known as the Queen of Disco for her contributions to that genre, her work influenced much more than dance music. She is survived by her longtime husband, Bruce Sudano, and three children.
