Donna Summer: Her Life and Music [Paperback]

Josiah Howard (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 5, 2003

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.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Tiny Ripple Books (February 5, 2003)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0967597331
• ISBN-13: 978-0967597331
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (19 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,467,798 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Buzzworthy, if nothing else, November 30, 2003

By 

Jazysol79 (Germantown, MD USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Donna Summer: Her Life and Music (Paperback)

Hmmmm.... This book was interesting. I picked this up only after reading Donna's book first, and then reading some of the other user reviews on this site. I got it cheap, and I must say I enjoyed it, flaws and all. It's no doubt entertaining, as I read it in just a day and a half. It's a very comfortable read. However, at times it seems like little more than a smear on Donna Summer rather than an unbiased, well researched chronicle of her life and career. While there are many revelations here that she did not make in her own book, some of the things he says seem based solely on his own opinion. His claim that she was never really accepted by blacks (particularly all the comments about the "On The Radio" album cover photos) seem like opinion stated as fact. I know plenty of black folks, young, old, straight and gay, who like her. His claim that the album cover has been feverishly discussed was not backed up at all. I'm black, and I've never heard such talk! I really liked the information about her early singles and the photos of those early picture sleeves... he definitely did his homework in some areas. Some of the quotes and things he pulls out of the cut directly contradict some things she said in her book (in this respect, you can tell he's a journalist). His whole account of the "Enough is Enough" sessions is extremely interesting. But at other times he does not seem to like his subject a whole hell of a lot. He constantly criticizes her appearance. He dogs her hair, make-up and costumes, and even dogs the photos from the "Live and More" LP jacket. I mean come on... even a passing pop music fan identifies Donna Summer with that photo of her singing, eyes closed and head tilted back. I always thought the album was nicely packaged with great pictures, but the brother is entitled to his opinion I guess. I also thought his account of her fallout with gays was very biased, seemingly calling her honesty into question. It's obvious he thinks she made the remarks denouncing gays based on the articles he chose to cite throughout that chapter. I guess I'm looking at it from a journalistic standpoint, but the book is just not very balanced at all. In his defense, I found the photos in this book more interesting than the ones in her's, and the discography and TV appearance sections were worlds better than that pitiful discography in Donna's autobiography. However, much of the book is poorly edited... I had to resist the temptation to take out my red pen and mark it up. But overall, it's pretty entertaining, light reading. You'll find out some things you didn't know, and if nothing else it's a nice bookend to Donna's less revealing "Ordinary Girl."

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Fun read...but then it all falls apart...., February 23, 2003

By 

Eldo R. Estes (New York, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Donna Summer: Her Life and Music (Paperback)

Being a huge Donna Summer fan for most of my life...I was eager...yet skeptical...to read this book on her life and music. Unfortunately..without the cooperation of some key people involved in Donna's career...including the Diva herself...the book falls way short of giving any real insight into most topics covered (especially the ones fans really want to know about). Due to this lack of real information..the author spends way to much time simply reviewing Donna's albums...videos...photographs. Many of his opinions are valid...though a few of them ring pretty absurd. In spite of all the shortcomings, this should have been a simple fun ride through memory lane for Donna's large following. However..near the end of the book the author make a huge mistake in his timeline of events which totally disqualifies the validity of this entire book. If you can't get the dates correct in a biography....well....none of it really matters. Because of this glaring goof...I have to give this book one star.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Running for Cover...running from this book., February 15, 2003

By 

Kenneth Branyan (New York, New York United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Donna Summer: Her Life and Music (Paperback)

Perhaps having been a fan of Donna Summer's for 25 years and having met her twice now, the information provided has revealed nothing new in this book. One major feeling generated though was how determined and driven she was to be heard and how creative she was to reach millions a whole decade before Madonna. The last few chapters seemed to condense the recent past two decades cheating the readers of how much Donna Summers' voice and music has grown and how it continues to get stronger and better like a fine wine over time. The major criticism is the authors subjective opinions and attack on Donna Summer's image and physical appearance as well as her appearance in print, film/television,and album covers. I felt it inappropriate and offensive to it's readers and fans. I know Donna's fans young and mature look forward to her own story due out later this year...perhaps readers should wait for that book than waste money on such a limited read.