Disco Pioneer Donna Summer Dead At 63 (VIDEO)

Often called the "Queen" of Disco, Donna Summer has died Thursday at 63.

TMZ and other sources are reporting she lost her long time battle with lung cancer.  She had long believed she contracted the illness after inhaling some toxic particles after 911.  She had largely kept the cancer under wraps, and was continuing to work on new material.  She was finishing up an album of new work very recently.

 "Last Dance",  "Hot Stuff", and "Bad Girls" were among her huge disco-ear hits, and she continued into the 80's with such hits as "She Works Hard For The Money."  Unlike many disco era performers, Summer was able to continue making hit music well after the craze faded, and she remained a musical icon who still toured and performed frequently.  She won 5 Grammy awards during her musical career.