Donna Summer -- the Queen of Disco -- died this morning after a battle with cancer ... TMZ has learned.
We're told Summer was in Florida at the time of her death. She was 63 years old.
Sources close to Summer tell us ... the singer was trying to keep the extent of her illness under wraps. We spoke to someone who was with Summer a couple of weeks ago ... who says she didn't seem too bad.
In fact, we're told she was focused on trying to finish up an album she had been working on.
Summer was a 5-time Grammy winner who shot to superstardom in the '70s with iconic hits like "Last Dance," "Hot Stuff" and "Bad Girls."
i loved her! i know many might deem her a guilty pleasure,but for me,she was not. with the range of her voice together with giorgio moroder's production quality,i have no shame. they were absolutely brilliant together.
love to love and i feel love are still two of the most intoxicating things i've ever heard in my life.
She was truly the Queen of Disco and even though I was never that into disco, Love to Love You Baby always brings back layers upon layers of good memories.
Thank you, Donna, and may you rest in peace... and if that peace involves colored lights, sinewy beats and gold platform boots, more power to you.
Aww brings forth a flood of memories of the 1970s, 8-tracks and AM radio by the pool. Singing sweet songs, that Donna.
Rest easy lovely lady.
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Fashion: Don’t you recognize me? Death: You should know that I don’t see very well and I can’t wear glasses. Fashion: I’m Fashion, your sister. Death: My sister? Fashion: Yes. You and I together keep undoing and changing things down here on earth although you go about it in one way and I another. Giacomo Leopardi, “Dialogue Between Fashion and Death.”abridged