Donna Summer, the disco diva, dies at 63

TMZ is reporting disco queen Donna Summer has died.

The celebrity gossip site reported Summer was in Florida at the time of her death. "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," TMZ said.

According to Newser.com, Summer had been battling cancer.

Summer was born in 1948 in Dorchester, Massachusetts. Summer found her love for singing at an early age when she began singing in the church.

In her teens, Summer formed several musical groups including one with her sister and a cousin.

In 1971 Summer released her first single, a cover of "Sally Go 'Round the Roses." 

It was not until the 1975 release of "Love to Love You Baby" that Summer finally found success in the American music industry.

Summer's life was not without controversy. According to NME.com, in the mid 80s Summer reportedly said AIDS was punishment by god onto gay men and women. She quickly apologized for her actions in a letter to the AIDS campaign group ACT UP in 1989 where she said that it was "a terrible misunderstanding. I was unknowingly protected by those around me from the bad press and hate letters….If I have caused you pain, forgive me."

According to a 2010 interview with AllVoices.com, Summer said she was working on a new album and was making plans to tour.

Summer leaves behind a husband and two daughters. She was 63 years old.