Diva Donna Summer celebrates the 70s in style. By Karen Hockney
Together with flares and Starsky & Hutch, disco fever epitomises the Seventies. And who better to headline Discomania, a musical tribute to the decade, than Donna Summer?
The disco diva – who took the 1970s by storm with hits like Love To Love You Baby and Hot Stuff - co-hosts the show with Neil Fox. She also teams up with Westlife to sing No More Tears (Enough Is Enough).
Also joining in the fun are Kool & The Gang – who join Liberty X for a version of their his Fresh – and Jamelia, who sings Yvonne Eliman's hit If I Can't Have You. Plus there are foot-stomping turns from Girls Aloud and Rachel Stevens.
Set in a recreation of infamous New York nightclub Studio 54, the show also boasts a rendition of Lady Marmelade by Corrie actresses Tina O'Brien, Nikki Sanderson and Lucy-Jo Hudson.
"That era was about having fun," says Donna, 55, who lives in Nashville, Tennessee with her husband, singer Bruce Sudano. "People laugh at the fashion, but the Seventies was all about colour, style and being creative."
Donna was born in Boston in 1948. She grew up singing in church choirs before joining a rock and roll band called The Crow. After performing across Europe in musicals, she went back to America to forge her solo career, which took off in the mid-Seventies.
But she has had bad times too, including depression and even a suicide attempt. happily she is now back on top. Donna has just released one album - The Journey: The Very Best Of Donna Summer – and is working on another. "I enjoy it as much as ever," she says. "I'm always looking to learn new things."
When she isn't recording or out on the road, Donna spends her time with her daughters, Mimi, 30, 22-year-old Brooklyn and Amanda, 21.