Born September 7, 1949 to Queenie May Proctor and Daniel Fow

Conversion

"I Will Survive"

However, from 1980, a severe anti-disco sentiment stumbled many disco musicians including Gloria.

In 1982, she became a Christian and began to distance herself from her "sinful" past.

In 1983, her album Gloria Gaynor, which was more mid-tempo R&B and Pop style, were rejected by her old fans, However, the new version of "I Will Survive", was shared in 86 countries and received positive feedbacks.

She changed the lyrics from "It took all the strength I had not to fall apart" to "Only the Lord could give me strength not to fall apart".

In 1984, Gloria recorded I Am What I Am, which reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Dance Disco Hits.

This song was unique in its style and powerful in lyrics

Unlike other popular Disco songs at that time, that were heavily produced (multiple voices, overdubs, and adjustments to pitch and speed) Gloria acutally sang with her clean voice without any background singers.

Written from a woman's point of view, who was recently dumped, boldly teeling her ex-lover that she will get over with him and will find her persoanl strenght on the way..

Has become an anthem of female emancipation and also a social survival

Now

BIG HITS

In 2002, she was honored at the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo with “Legend” award.

In 2009, Gaynor participated in the Mandela Day Celebration at Radio City Music Hall and performed “I Will Survive” to honor Nelson Mandela’s 91st birthday.

In 2013, she released her first gospel album, titled as We Will Survive.

Also, Gloria obatin her bachelor’s degree in Psychology, hoping to build a recreational and counseling center for teenage parents in her hometown, Newark.

In late 1978, with the release of her album Love Tracks, she climbed the pop charts because of her song "I Will Survive". In 1979, this song claimed the #1 position on two different occasions (Double platinum by RIAA) Also, this song was awarded the only Grammy Award for Best Disco Recording in 1980.

What is Disco?

The genre DISCO came from a word “discotheque”, indicating popular night clubs during 1960-70s. It is composed of various elements; funk, soul, pop, salsa and etc. Disco songs intend to excite people to get up and dance. Initially, it’s audiences were club goers consist of African American, Italian American, Latino in the NY city and Philadelphia, but soon was enjoyed by many, especially with the release of movie Saturday Night Fever, along with is glittering disco fashions (hot pants, flared jeans and trousers, platform shoes).

Debut

In the early 1960s, she sang as a vocalist of Soul Satisfiers (jazz/pop band)

In 1965, her first album ("Will You Be My Guy/Train Of Love" )

In 1975, the release of her album Never Can Say Goodbye ("Honey Bee", "Never Can Say Goodbye" and "Reach Out, I'll Be There")brought her first real success, as the song "Never Can Say Goodbye" became the first song to top Billboard magazin'es dance chart, and the album introduced disco music to the American public

Growing Up

"There was always music in our house"

Born September 7, 1949, in Newark, New Jersey.

Relatively poor, her house was filled with music (Her father a professional singer of Step n'Fetchit, her brother sang in a gospel quartet, she enjoyed listening to the radio.)

"All through my young life I wanted to sing, although nobody in my family knew it"

The Original Queen of Disco