 Musical icon, Gloria Gaynor, was first discovered by yet
another legend, Clive Davis, formerly head of MGM Records. Clive had auditioned
Gloria three times before signing her. That third time was a charm that gave
birth to a legend that continues to cross generations like no other.
Pop culture never could say goodbye to the woman who is still as strong and
well-known as her anthem for the ages, and for ages to come – "I Will Survive."
She is the official Queen of the Discos, chosen by the American National
Association of Discotheque DJ's in 1976 in New York.
Gloria is just as busy performing now as she was in the 70s, 80s and 90s. And
now with the Millennium, she is hotter than ever!! She appeared in a two week
stint on Broadway in the longest running musical revue, "Smokey Joe's Cafe." She
also performs in more than 80 countries a year and makes appearances at
international entertainment and sporting events, such as VH-1's "Behind The
Music" and a Phoenix Mercury WNBA game.
The French World Cup Soccer Team appointed her as their "Godmother" because of
her inspiring, uplifting music. "I Will Survive" became their anthem after they
won the coveted World Cup for soccer.
Numerous dignitaries have had the pleasure of seeing her perform, including
President Clinton, Princess Grace, Prince Rainier and Pope John Paul II.
The first and only Grammy Award for "Best Disco Recording" was given to Gloria
Gaynor in 1980. She was also the first to record an album especially for clubs,
"Never Can Say Goodbye," and the first to do a mega-extended dance medley party
mix, releasing 12" dance singles like "Most of All" and "Anybody Wanna Party"
that are now high-end collectors' items.
Gloria has proven to be a multimedia success with the release of her
autobiography, "I Will Survive," a revelatory trip through life's journey of
hard lessons, tough times and survival. Her album "I Will Survive: The Gloria
Gaynor Anthology" is a pulsating collection, produced by dance music arbiter
Chin. It goes beyond the disco category that defined her singles and albums at
the time of their original release between 1975 and 1981. The album was released
in France in January 1999.
Also released in 1999 in Europe was her double-platinum, "It's My Time," which
has the new French Soccer Team version of "I Will Survive," This new version has
a life of its own and is now being adopted all over the world as an anthem or
'fight' song for sports teams!!
If that isn't enough, Gloria has been compared to a modern day Audrey Hepburn.
Her numerous charity events include the United Cerebral Palsy Organization, The
Rita Hayworth Gala For Alzheimer's, Revlon's Annual Walk For Life, The Michael
Bolton Foundation, and the list goes on. She's also involved in helping
underprivileged children in the inner-cities, inspiring them and teaching them
to use their skills in overcoming the many challenges and obstacles that they
face. Her humanitarian mission work has taken her all over the world to
countries like Lebanon, Israel, Bosnia and other Slavic nations.
"The timing is really right," Gloria says about undertaking ambitious endeavors
simultaneously, "and it's wonderful. I'm getting myself in gear to do a lot of
work."
Whatever she does, you can be certain that not only will Gloria Gaynor survive,
she's having fun doing it!
Notable songs include --
I Will Survive
Never Can Say Goodbye
Let's Mend What's Been Broken
Let's Make a Deal
Let Me Know (I Have a Right)
I Am What I Am
Honeybee
Casanova Brown
Anybody Wanna Party?
(If You Want It) Do It Yourself
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