Gloria Gaynor facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Gloria Gaynor
Gaynor in 2014
Background information
Birth name	Gloria Fowles
Born	(1943-09-07) September 7, 1943 (age 81) Newark, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Singer songwriter actress
Years active	1965–present
Musical career
Genres	R&B soul disco post-disco
Instruments	Vocals
Labels	Jocida MGM Polydor Chrysalis Stylus Hot Productions Logic Radikal

Gloria Fowles (born September 7, 1943), known as Gloria Gaynor, is an American singer. She is famous for her disco hits like "I Will Survive" (1978). Other well-known songs include "Never Can Say Goodbye" (1974) and "I Am What I Am" (1983).

Early Life and Dreams

Gloria Fowles was born in Newark, New Jersey. Her family always had music around. Gloria loved listening to the radio and records by artists like Nat King Cole. Her father played the ukulele and sang professionally.

Gloria grew up with five brothers and one sister. Her brothers sang gospel songs. Even though she loved music, Gloria wasn't allowed to sing with her brothers' group. She wrote in her autobiography, I Will Survive, that she always wanted to sing, but her family didn't know it.

The family wasn't rich, but Gloria remembered their home being full of laughter. They moved to a new neighborhood in 1960. Gloria finished high school in 1961. She started singing in a nightclub in Newark. After performing in local clubs for several years, she began her recording career in 1971.

Music Career Journey

Starting Out

Gloria Gaynor began her career singing with a band called The Soul Satisfiers in the 1960s. Her first song, "She'll Be Sorry," came out in 1965. Her big break happened in 1973 when she signed with Columbia Records.

In 1975, she released the album Never Can Say Goodbye. The first part of the album had three songs that flowed into each other. This long dance mix became very popular in clubs. These songs helped introduce disco music to many people. "Never Can Say Goodbye" was the first song to reach number one on Billboard magazine's dance chart. It was also a hit on the main Pop Charts.

After this success, Gaynor quickly released another album, Experience Gloria Gaynor, in the same year. Many of her songs became hits in nightclubs. Her cover of "How High the Moon" also topped the US Dance Charts.

The "I Will Survive" Era

Gaynor in 1976

In late 1978, Gloria Gaynor released her album Love Tracks. This album included her huge hit song "I Will Survive". The song is about a woman who is strong and can live without her former partner. It became a powerful song for women and a symbol of strength.

"I Will Survive" was first released as the less important "B-side" of a record. But people loved it so much that it became the main hit. Gloria Gaynor won a Grammy Award for "I Will Survive." The song is considered one of the "500 Greatest Songs of All Time" by Rolling Stone magazine.

Unlike many disco songs, "I Will Survive" didn't have background singers or a lot of extra sounds. It also used Gloria's natural singing voice. In 1979, she released the album I Have a Right, which had another disco hit, "Let Me Know (I Have a Right)."

Later Career and New Directions

In the early 1980s, disco music became less popular in the United States. Gloria Gaynor released two disco albums that were not as successful there. In 1982, she became a Christian. She then released an album with more R&B and pop songs.

Her song "I Am What I Am" from her 1984 album I Am Gloria Gaynor became a hit in dance clubs. This song also became important to the LGBTQ+ community, making Gaynor a gay icon.

Comeback and Continued Success

In the 1990s, disco music became popular again, which helped Gloria Gaynor's career. She also tried acting, appearing on TV shows like That '70s Show and Ally McBeal. In 2001, she performed "I Will Survive" at a special concert for Michael Jackson.

Gaynor released a new album, I Wish You Love, in 2002. Two songs from this album, "Just Keep Thinking About You" and "I Never Knew," topped Billboard's dance chart.

In 2005, Gloria Gaynor and her music were honored. She was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame. Her song "I Will Survive" was also added to the Hall of Fame. In 2008, she became a spokesperson for the American Diabetes Association.

Gaynor continued to appear on TV shows in the late 2000s and early 2010s. She promoted the 30th anniversary of "I Will Survive." She also released a Christian album in 2013.

Gaynor performing in 2012

"I Will Survive" remains very popular, even decades after its release. Gloria Gaynor still tours and performs her famous song. She said in 2012 that it feels great to have a song that people of all ages enjoy. In 2015, the song was even used in the movie The Martian.

In 2016, "I Will Survive" was chosen to be part of the Library of Congress' National Recording Registry. This means it's considered an important part of American history. In 2017, Gaynor changed the lyrics of "I Will Survive" to "Texas Will Survive" to support Texas after Hurricane Harvey.

In 2019, "I Will Survive" became popular on TikTok. In 2020, Gloria Gaynor won her second Grammy Award for her gospel album Testimony. In 2021, she recorded a song with Australian singer Kylie Minogue. In 2022, she appeared on The Masked Singer as "Mermaid."

Personal Life

Gloria Gaynor married her manager, Linwood Simon, in 1979. They later divorced in 2005. Gloria Gaynor does not have any children.

Discography

Albums:

See also

• List of artists who reached number one in the United States
• List of artists who reached number one on the U.S. Dance Club Songs chart
• List of best-selling singles