Sept. 7: Today, Gloria Gaynor, best-known for disco-era hits, is 61.

Born Gloria Fowles, Gaynor sang with the Soul Satisfiers, a jazz/pop band, in the 1960s. She recorded her first solo single, "She'll Be Sorry/Let Me Go Baby" in 1965.

Her first success came in 1975 with the release of her album Never Can Say Goodbye, which established her credentials in disco. The first side of this album consisted of three disco songs with no breaks in between the songs that lasted 19 minutes - a boon for disco dancers.


Capitalizing on the success of her first album, Gloria Gaynor quickly released her second album, Experience Gloria Gaynor, later that same year. While this album was also successful, it was not quite as popular as her previous album in the mainstream.

In the next few years, Gloria Gaynor released the albums Glorious and Park Avenue Sound, but would only enjoy a few moderate hits. However, in late 1978, with the release of her album Love Tracks, she climbed the pop charts again because of her song "I Will Survive." The lyrics of this song are written from the point of view of a woman, recently dumped, telling her former lover that she can cope without him and does not want anything more to do with him. The song has become something of an anthem of female emancipation.


After almost 30 years of its release, Gaynor continues to ride the success of "I Will Survive", touring the country and the world over and performing her signature song on dozens of TV shows. On September 19, 2005, Gaynor was honored twice when she and her music were inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame. "I Will Survive" was inducted under the Records Inductees category.

During her career, her biggest hits included "I Will Survive," (Hot 100 number 1, 1979), "Never Can Say Goodbye," "Let Me Know (I Have a Right)" and "I Am What I Am."

Press links below to view You Tube videos:
-- "I Will Survive "
-- "Never can Say Goodbye "
-- "I Am What I Am"