Once upon a time…Almost Summer: Donna Summer in the Pines…
Once upon a time there was a singer who helped to create a sound that defined an era. Her name was Donna Summer, and here is her story of how she almost played in the Pines…
Donna Summer
exploded onto the music scene in 1975 and created a sound called Disco that still is relevant today.
In 1979 the Pines was putting together their legendary party called “Beach.” This was a groundbreaking event on Fire Island that had never been done before. An all night party that would benefit the communities Fire Department. The creatives gays of the Pines partnered with the local straight craftsman to build the Studio 54 of Fire Island that all would try to get in.
Ron Martin
To be part of this exciting event their had to be entertainment, and Ron Martin who was part of the creative team knew just the person…
Singer Donna Summer
was at the height of her fame with her album “Bad Girls” at the top of the charts.
In 2019 at our “Beach” Anniversary Boardwalk Talk Ron told the story of Almost Summer…
Donna’s star continued to rise with hit after hit, until it changed in 1983, when the "Queen of Disco" allegedly made several derogatory remarks about the gay community and HIV/AIDS during a performance. The comments sparked immediate backlash from both gay and straight fans.
"It was Adam and Eve, not Adam and Steve," Summer allegedly said during the Atlantic City performance. Summer had recently announced she was a born-again Christian, and her alleged comments were based in her new religion.
She later denied ever making the comments, and in a letter released in 2012 from 1989, Summer calls the accusations "unjust and unfair." The letter, dated July 26 th, was sent to ACT UP, a prominent AIDS advocacy group. In it, Summer explains the difficulties in her personal life at the time, and recalls her strong gay following before "the confusion."
Summer says she was initially shielded from the controversy by her manager. "Since then, however, I have made numerous replies and spoken openly to try and clear up this misunderstanding," she writes. "I cannot force you to believe what I tell you, so if you choose to continue on with this fighting and arguing, that's up to you. I did not say God is punishing gays with aids, I did not sit with ill intentions in judgement over your lives. I haven't stopped talking to my friends who are gay, nor have I ever chosen my friends by their sexual preferences."
The controversy definitely put a stain on a stellar career, however her work continued. She eventually won her gays back by performing at many AIDS benefits. In 1991 came the second chance at a Donna Summer concert in the Pines. Again unfortunately the stars did not align again as it was just not meant to be…
Academy Award winner Songwriter Paul Jabara who collaborated with Donna many times, and also spent time in the Pines wrote this unreleased track before his death as a AIDS anthem. To play hit download.
Though many still hold ill will towards Donna there is no recorded audio or video footage proving the supposed comments. In a world today where bigger offenses are forgotten, and with her passing in 2012 her music still brings out the gays of all ages where her legacy lives on…
2023. The documentary Love to Love You, Donna Summer, directed by Oscar and Emmy-winning filmmaker Roger Ross Williams and Brooklyn Sudano, daughter of Donna Summer, available to stream May 2023 on HBO and HBO Max. Debuts to mixed reviews…
