She said it best! Gloria Gaynor, at almost 80 years old can “never say goodbye”! The legendary disco queen is back with a vengeance! I had the pleasure of getting to know the legendary artist in-depth at a screening of her documentary at the Tribeca Film festival last night. Gloria took us through the journey of how she arrived at being the legend we now know today. There was not a dry eye in the audience when she talked about being sexually abused at the age of 12 by her mother’s boyfriend and again at 17 by her own boyfriend’s cousin. The lose of her mother, her backbone and role model growing up as a child and musically, was a turning point in her life.
After so many years of having a strong hold on disco and then vanishing, Gloria Gaynor regained the courage to embark on her life long dreams to switch to the gospel genre. An endeavor her manager and husband discouraged her from doing years ago. Once freed from the shackles of what she thought was a blissful marriage, she set her sight on her long forgotten mission. Now at a ripe age of 75, the brutal nature and mindset of the youth obsessed music industry, she was a relic! No one would work with her until super fan and artist in his own right, Chris Stevens came along. Much thanks to his beloved wife who reminded him of his fascination with the legend in his early music days, when he too tried to turn her down. Ditching her disco crown, collaborating with one of the best gospel artists such as Yolanda Adams and Jason Crabb, Gloria and Chris created one of the most profound gospel album “Testimony” in recent times! It went on to win a Grammy award! She’s a true testament to perservance and resilience!
I actually gave up on going to a Britney spears party for Gloria! I mean, how could I pass up on what could be a once in a life time opportunity when my dear sister and artist extraordinaire Renee Cox came calling! It was a no brainer! We both dance like 2 high school kids when Gloria took to the stage to sing a medley of her iconic hits! You guessed it, “I will Survive” had the entire room showing off and showing out! What a time to be alive! It certainly was a night to remember. Miss Gaynor, at 80 years old, it’s safe to say, is the hardest working woman in show business!
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