Disco is a genre of dance-oriented music that originated in African American, gay and Latin American communities in 1970s. Musical influences include funk, soul music. Disco artist Donna Summer became the first well-known and most popular female disco artist, and also played a part in pioneering the electronic sound that later became a part of disco. Many non-disco artists recorded disco songs at the height of disco's popularity, and films such as Saturday Night Fever and Thank God It's Friday contributed to disco's rise in mainstream popularity and ironically the beginning of its commercial decline. Here are some of disco's most iconic female artists.
![]()
Donna Summer
Donna Summer, the undisputed "Queen of Disco," was the first artist to hit #1 with three consecutive double albums, as well as the first female artist to have five top 10 singles in one calendar year. "Bad Girls," her most successful single, spent 5 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979.
Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor released the most well-known and most iconic disco song ever. Everyone knows the lyrics to the disco classic "I Will Survive."
Precious Wilson (Eruption)
While she didn't achieve the amount of success other disco singers achieved in the United States, Precious Wilson was one of the most iconic disco singers in Europe. Her Frank Farian-produced cover of Neil Sedaka's "One Way Ticket" was a huge hit in 1979.
Diana Ross
Diana Ross, the former lead singer of The Supremes, also achieved 4 #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits during the 70s. In 1976, Diana Ross reinvented herself as a disco diva, and her disco single "Love Hangover" became a #1 hit.
Cynthia Johnson (Lipps Inc.)
"Funkytown," sung by Cynthia Johnson, held a unique record for reaching number one in 28 countries, more than any other single release until Madonna's "Hung Up" reached number one in 41 countries in 2005.
Candi Staton
Soul and disco legend Candi Staton is most known for her 1986 single "You Got The Love," but Candi achieved massive success in 1976 with her classic disco single "Young Hearts Run Free." The song peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, and a cover version of it was featured in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet.
Grace Jones
Grace Jones'"I Need a Man" was her first club hit, reaching the number 1 spot on the Billboard dance chart. It also contributed to Jones' growing popularity among the gay scene.
Agnetha Fältskog & Anni-Frid Lyngstad (ABBA)
ABBA is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with various estimates ranging from over 140 to over 500 million sold records. The group went on to have 4 Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Liz Mitchell, Marcia Barrett, & Maizie Williams (Boney M.)
Boney M. achieved massive success throughout Europe during the disco era. Sadly, the group never made much of a splash in the United States.
France Joli
Canadian singer France Joli was only 16 years old when her debut single "Come To Me" came out. The song peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to spend 3 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Amii Stewart
Amii Stewart's debut single and cover of Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood" was the most successful version of the song. The disco version of the song, released in 1979, reached number one in the U.S. charts in April 1979; it also made it to the soul singles and disco charts, becoming the best-known version of the song.
Janice M. Johnson & Hazel P. Payne (A Taste Of Honey)
A Taste Of Honey's "Boogie Oogie Oogie" sold over two million copies and became one of the most recognizable songs from the disco era. A Taste Of Honey won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist of 1978.
Tina Charles
British singer Tina Charles released her single "I Love To Love" in 1976. It went on to become an international hit, and 11-year-old Björk appeared on Icelandic radio singing "I Love to Love" through the music school she attended, which led her to a record deal and the release of her debut album.
Réjane "Reggie" Magloire & Rose Marie Ramsey (Indeep)
Although technically considered a post-disco track, Indeep's 1982 single "Last Night A D.J. Saved My Life" was a massive club hit. The group sadly became a one-hit wonder, never achieving another hit.
Cheryl Lynn
Cheryl Lynn's debut single "Got To Be Real" has been called one of the defining moments in disco. The song spent three weeks at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart and hit number one on the R&B chart in early-1979.
Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx & Sarah Dash (LaBelle)
LaBella's hit "Lady Marmalade" reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. Patti LaBelle sang lead vocals on "Lady Marmalade" with backing vocals being contributed by band mates Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash. Although "Lady Marmalade" is about a prostitute, Patti LaBelle, the lead female vocal of the band, said: "I didn't know what it was about. Nobody, I swear this is God's truth, nobody told me what I'd just sung a song about."
Debbie Harry (Blondie)
In 1979, new wave band Blondie released their disco single "Heart Of Glass." The single reached number one on the singles charts in the US and the UK. In the US, the single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in April 1979, representing sales of one million copies. In the UK, it was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry in February 1979 for sales of 600,000 copies. The song was very controversial, as fans of Blondie accused them of selling out.
Andrea True (Andrea True Connection)
Porn actress Andrea True recorded "More, More, More" in 1976 in Jamaica, where she had been appearing in a television commercial. An attempted coup prevented her from leaving the country with her wages from the commercial. Resourcefully, True called on a producer friend to come down to Jamaica to write and record the song with her. "More, More, More" went on to become a massive global hit.
Thelma Houston
Thelma Houston's cover of "Don't Leave Me This Way" is one of the most well-known disco songs ever. Houston's version of the song became an unofficial theme song for the AIDS epidemic in gay male communities of the west during the 80s. Thelma Houston's version of the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.
Loleatta Holloway
You might not know her name, but you've probably heard her voice before. Loleatta Holloway's disco classic "Love Sensation" was sampled numerous times: her voice was featured on Black Box's 1989 single "Ride On Time" and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch's 1991 single "Good Vibrations." Holloway successfully sued Black Box for using her vocals without a proper credit, which led to an undisclosed court settlement in Holloway's favor.
Martha Wash (The Weather Girls)
Martha Wash is most known for the disco track "It's Raining Men." Just like Loleatta Holloway, Martha Wash also sued Black Box for the uncredited use of her vocals on their tracks "Everybody, Everybody,""Strike It Up,""I Don't Know Anybody Else," and "Fantasy." As well as suing Black Box, Martha Wash also sued C+C Music Factory for their uncredited use of her vocals on the track "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)."
Baccara
Spanish duo Baccara reached the #1 spot in the UK in 1977 with their hit single "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie." It did not chart in the United States, despite receiving airplay in several markets. It is one of the best-selling singles of all time, despite being virtually unknown in the U.S., with an estimated total of 18 million units.
Mary Davis (The S.O.S. Band)
In 1980, The S.O.S. Band hit the #3 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with their hit "Take Your Time (Do It Right)." The hit #1 on the Billboard Dance and Billboard R&B charts.
Anita Ward
One-hit-wonder Anita Ward hit the #1 spot with her single "Ring My Bell" in 1979. The song was a #1 hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Alfa Anderson, Diva Gray, and Luci Martin (Chic)
According to guitarist Nile Rodgers, "Le Freak" was devised during New Year's Eve of 1977, as a result of his and bassist Bernard Edwards' being refused entrance to Studio 54, where they had been invited by Grace Jones, due to her failure to notify the nightclub's staff. He said the lyrics of the refrain were originally "Fuck off!" rather than "Freak out!" The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.
Sister Sledge
In 1979, Sister Sledge reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 with the singles "He's The Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family."
Evelyn "Champagne" King
Another post-disco song, Evelyn "Champagne" King's "Love Come Down" was a massive hit worldwide. The song peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as peaking at #1 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
Sources:
YouTube 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233 + Wikipedia 123456789101112131415161718192021222324
Donna Summer
Donna Summer, the undisputed "Queen of Disco," was the first artist to hit #1 with three consecutive double albums, as well as the first female artist to have five top 10 singles in one calendar year. "Bad Girls," her most successful single, spent 5 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1979.
Gloria Gaynor
Gloria Gaynor released the most well-known and most iconic disco song ever. Everyone knows the lyrics to the disco classic "I Will Survive."
Precious Wilson (Eruption)
While she didn't achieve the amount of success other disco singers achieved in the United States, Precious Wilson was one of the most iconic disco singers in Europe. Her Frank Farian-produced cover of Neil Sedaka's "One Way Ticket" was a huge hit in 1979.
Diana Ross
Diana Ross, the former lead singer of The Supremes, also achieved 4 #1 Billboard Hot 100 hits during the 70s. In 1976, Diana Ross reinvented herself as a disco diva, and her disco single "Love Hangover" became a #1 hit.
Cynthia Johnson (Lipps Inc.)
"Funkytown," sung by Cynthia Johnson, held a unique record for reaching number one in 28 countries, more than any other single release until Madonna's "Hung Up" reached number one in 41 countries in 2005.
Candi Staton
Soul and disco legend Candi Staton is most known for her 1986 single "You Got The Love," but Candi achieved massive success in 1976 with her classic disco single "Young Hearts Run Free." The song peaked at #20 on the Billboard Hot 100, and a cover version of it was featured in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet.
Grace Jones
Grace Jones'"I Need a Man" was her first club hit, reaching the number 1 spot on the Billboard dance chart. It also contributed to Jones' growing popularity among the gay scene.
Agnetha Fältskog & Anni-Frid Lyngstad (ABBA)
ABBA is one of the best-selling music artists of all time, with various estimates ranging from over 140 to over 500 million sold records. The group went on to have 4 Top 10 singles on the Billboard Hot 100.
Liz Mitchell, Marcia Barrett, & Maizie Williams (Boney M.)
Boney M. achieved massive success throughout Europe during the disco era. Sadly, the group never made much of a splash in the United States.
France Joli
Canadian singer France Joli was only 16 years old when her debut single "Come To Me" came out. The song peaked at #15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went on to spend 3 consecutive weeks at #1 on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart.
Amii Stewart
Amii Stewart's debut single and cover of Eddie Floyd's "Knock on Wood" was the most successful version of the song. The disco version of the song, released in 1979, reached number one in the U.S. charts in April 1979; it also made it to the soul singles and disco charts, becoming the best-known version of the song.
Janice M. Johnson & Hazel P. Payne (A Taste Of Honey)
A Taste Of Honey's "Boogie Oogie Oogie" sold over two million copies and became one of the most recognizable songs from the disco era. A Taste Of Honey won the Grammy Award for Best New Artist of 1978.
Tina Charles
British singer Tina Charles released her single "I Love To Love" in 1976. It went on to become an international hit, and 11-year-old Björk appeared on Icelandic radio singing "I Love to Love" through the music school she attended, which led her to a record deal and the release of her debut album.
Réjane "Reggie" Magloire & Rose Marie Ramsey (Indeep)
Although technically considered a post-disco track, Indeep's 1982 single "Last Night A D.J. Saved My Life" was a massive club hit. The group sadly became a one-hit wonder, never achieving another hit.
Cheryl Lynn
Cheryl Lynn's debut single "Got To Be Real" has been called one of the defining moments in disco. The song spent three weeks at number twelve on the Billboard Hot 100 pop singles chart and hit number one on the R&B chart in early-1979.
Patti LaBelle, Nona Hendryx & Sarah Dash (LaBelle)
LaBella's hit "Lady Marmalade" reached the #1 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1975. Patti LaBelle sang lead vocals on "Lady Marmalade" with backing vocals being contributed by band mates Nona Hendryx and Sarah Dash. Although "Lady Marmalade" is about a prostitute, Patti LaBelle, the lead female vocal of the band, said: "I didn't know what it was about. Nobody, I swear this is God's truth, nobody told me what I'd just sung a song about."
Debbie Harry (Blondie)
In 1979, new wave band Blondie released their disco single "Heart Of Glass." The single reached number one on the singles charts in the US and the UK. In the US, the single was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in April 1979, representing sales of one million copies. In the UK, it was certified Platinum by the British Phonographic Industry in February 1979 for sales of 600,000 copies. The song was very controversial, as fans of Blondie accused them of selling out.
Andrea True (Andrea True Connection)
Porn actress Andrea True recorded "More, More, More" in 1976 in Jamaica, where she had been appearing in a television commercial. An attempted coup prevented her from leaving the country with her wages from the commercial. Resourcefully, True called on a producer friend to come down to Jamaica to write and record the song with her. "More, More, More" went on to become a massive global hit.
Thelma Houston
Thelma Houston's cover of "Don't Leave Me This Way" is one of the most well-known disco songs ever. Houston's version of the song became an unofficial theme song for the AIDS epidemic in gay male communities of the west during the 80s. Thelma Houston's version of the song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1977.
Loleatta Holloway
You might not know her name, but you've probably heard her voice before. Loleatta Holloway's disco classic "Love Sensation" was sampled numerous times: her voice was featured on Black Box's 1989 single "Ride On Time" and Marky Mark and the Funky Bunch's 1991 single "Good Vibrations." Holloway successfully sued Black Box for using her vocals without a proper credit, which led to an undisclosed court settlement in Holloway's favor.
Martha Wash (The Weather Girls)
Martha Wash is most known for the disco track "It's Raining Men." Just like Loleatta Holloway, Martha Wash also sued Black Box for the uncredited use of her vocals on their tracks "Everybody, Everybody,""Strike It Up,""I Don't Know Anybody Else," and "Fantasy." As well as suing Black Box, Martha Wash also sued C+C Music Factory for their uncredited use of her vocals on the track "Gonna Make You Sweat (Everybody Dance Now)."
Baccara
Spanish duo Baccara reached the #1 spot in the UK in 1977 with their hit single "Yes Sir, I Can Boogie." It did not chart in the United States, despite receiving airplay in several markets. It is one of the best-selling singles of all time, despite being virtually unknown in the U.S., with an estimated total of 18 million units.
Mary Davis (The S.O.S. Band)
In 1980, The S.O.S. Band hit the #3 spot on the Billboard Hot 100 with their hit "Take Your Time (Do It Right)." The hit #1 on the Billboard Dance and Billboard R&B charts.
Anita Ward
One-hit-wonder Anita Ward hit the #1 spot with her single "Ring My Bell" in 1979. The song was a #1 hit in the United States and the United Kingdom.
Alfa Anderson, Diva Gray, and Luci Martin (Chic)
According to guitarist Nile Rodgers, "Le Freak" was devised during New Year's Eve of 1977, as a result of his and bassist Bernard Edwards' being refused entrance to Studio 54, where they had been invited by Grace Jones, due to her failure to notify the nightclub's staff. He said the lyrics of the refrain were originally "Fuck off!" rather than "Freak out!" The song reached #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.
Sister Sledge
In 1979, Sister Sledge reached the Top 10 of the Billboard Hot 100 with the singles "He's The Greatest Dancer" and "We Are Family."
Evelyn "Champagne" King
Another post-disco song, Evelyn "Champagne" King's "Love Come Down" was a massive hit worldwide. The song peaked at #17 on the Billboard Hot 100, as well as peaking at #1 on the Hot Dance Club Songs chart.
Sources:
YouTube 123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233 + Wikipedia 123456789101112131415161718192021222324
