[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 78 (Tuesday, May 29, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E893]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       IN MEMORY OF DONNA SUMMER

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. LAURA RICHARDSON

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, May 29, 2012

  Ms. RICHARDSON. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to the 
memory of Donna Summer, a singer whose legacy continues to shape the 
music industry and inspire audiences around the world.
  Donna Summer passed away surrounded by her family and loved ones 
after a long battle with cancer. She was 63.
  Donna Summer was a powerhouse who defined dance music and paved the 
road for countless performers. Her music career spanned across four 
decades and led to five Grammy awards. She was the first female artist 
to have four number-one hits in a 13-month period as well as the first 
to receive a Grammy in rock. She infused the music industry with a 
sense of excitement and energy that brought everyone to the dance floor 
and continues to inspire today's artists.
  Her songs provided the soundtrack to the disco years, but her legacy 
extends far beyond this singular genre. Her versatility and talent 
cemented her place in music history even as the disco lights faded, and 
she continued to write and perform until recent years.
  As a devout born-again Christian, Donna Summer's life hardly 
resembled the glitz and glam of her stage persona. She grew up singing 
gospel, and her faith provided her with a strong sense of purpose and 
conviction. Although she may first be remembered as a singer and 
performer, her memory will also live on as a loving mother, wife, and 
friend.
  I feel love when I hear her music, a love that will last even after I 
have no more tears to shed. Her memory will carry on in the hearts of 
all who remember yesterday and the joy they felt when Donna Summer's 
songs played on the radio. Although Ms. Summer may have danced her last 
dance on Earth, Heaven knows she will be dancing and singing long after 
we dim all the lights.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to join me in a moment of silence in 
honor of her memory.

                          ____________________