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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZGAYNOR, Gloria(b 7 Sept. '49, Newark NJ) Soul singer and disco diva whose 'I Will Survive' has become an anthem, selling so many copies they've lost track and said to be the most requested karaoke song. Grew up without a father; her mother died c'70; sang with the Soul Satisfiers '71; her own top ten 'Never Can Say Goodbye' was said to be the first disco record played on US radio, album of that title no. 25 in Billboard '75. Of seven albums charting '75--80 on Polygram labels, the biggest by far was Love Tracks '79 incl. the big hit: 'I Will Survive' had been no. 1 late '78 and the album went top five. In '79 she married her manager, former cop Linwood Simon (after proposing to him 47 times), became a born- again Christian '82, published autobiography Soul Survivor '95, still touring and singing the hit. Revised book and new album The Answer were due '98. |