R.I.P. Donna Summer: 7 Things You Didn't Know About the "Queen of Disco"

Was she related to Bobby Brown?

The sudden death of Disco singing sensation Donna Summer today has shocked the music world and her fans across the globe.

The singer died after a long battle with cancer at the age of 63 today.

The "Queen of Disco" is survived by her husband and two daughters and left endless amounts of music for us to dance the night away to.

Here's a list of 7 things you may not know about the woman most famously known for creating the timeless track "Last Dance."

1. Donna "The Church Choir Singer?"

Before she was making us shake our tails on the dancefloor to her disco tunes, Donna was a singer in her local church choir in her birthplace of Dorchester, Massachusetts.

2. The Girl Group Phase

Like many stars of our time, Summer was part of a girl group before she decided to go solo and then hit it big. While she was a teenager and developing her voice, Summer was a member of numerous girl groups in her school and neighborhood. She eventually spent the most time with one group called "The Crew" after dropping out of high school.

[ALSO READ: R.I.P. Chuck Brown: Go-Go Inspired Songs]

3. Donna's Inspirations

While many stars may develop their love for singing on their own or by watching others close to them, many also admit to having musical influences that they grew up hearing or watching on TV. Summer's influencers show that greatness was always on her mind: Aretha Franklin, Janis Joplin and Grace Slick, to name a few.

4. Bobby Brown Is Family?

It seems like there are six degrees of separation between stars as well. The man who is most famously known for his relationship with the now deceased Whitney Houston was also Summer's cousin. In a video where she talks about the movie "The Bodyguard," Summer revealed that she is a distant relative of R&B singer Bobby Brown.

5. Donna's Famous Neighbor

The rich tend to live amongst the rich, right? Well Donna had one of the most iconic stars to ever grace this earth live next to her in actress Sophia Loren. Donna recounted the family's relationship with Loren in various interviews in which she spoke about her daughters even sleeping over the Loren house; and the fondness the actress had for her and her children.

6. The Boss and Donna

Even the greats need a little help. Well, Donna was able to have two of her songs composed by the "Boss" Bruce Springsteen. He composed "Protection" & "Cover Me." Donna chose to include "Protection" on her 1982 self titled album. Bruce recorded "Cover Me" for his "Born in the USA" album.

7. History On American Bandstand

Donna Summer holds the unique distinction of being the only person to guest host the legendary show hosted by the legendary Dick Clark who recently passed away.

      CHECK OUT BEAUTIFUL PHOTOS OF DONNA SUMMER AND HER CAREER HERE