Donna Summer, the disco legend whose songs helped define a decade, died today at her Englewood, Fla. home after a long battle with cancer. She was 63.

The singer known for her hits "The Last Dance," "She Works Hard For Her Money" and Number One pop singles with "Hot Stuff," "Bad Girls, and" "MacArthur Park" was one of the pioneering voices in disco music. Her music opened the doors for not only disco musicians, but she can also be considered one of the first dance and EDM musicians at a time when rock music was the only show in town.

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See also:
*Our review of KROQ Weenie Roast y Fiesta
*Shiny, New Pennywise: Even without Jim Lindberg, their latest set is as fresh as ever
*We Remember Adam Yauch, MCA of Beastie Boys, Dead at 47

We recognize it was a nice gesture. But Coldplay's tribute to the Beastie Boys' Adam Yauch at the Hollywood Bowl Friday night, a rendition of "(You Gotta) Fight For Your Right (To Party)" is everything the song isn't: earnest, delicate, a little whiny (sorry, it is).

If MCA hadn't died earlier that day, we might've thought it was a joke. Considering the Beasties wrote the song as a parody of party rock songs, maybe Chris Martins singing the song as a spoof would've been a more inspired tribute.

But the iconic song lives on un-ironically in most of our heads, and that's why Pennywise's version of the song at Saturday's KROQ Weenie Roast y Fiesta was great.

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The coroner's office ruled her manner of death as an accident, but the toxicology report said "cocaine and metabolites were identified and were contributory to the death. Marijuana, Alprazolam (Xanax), Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) and Diphenhydramine (Benadryl) were identified but did not contribute to the death."

The singer was found dead on Feb. 11, in the bathtub of her Beverly Hilton Hotel room. She was 48 at the time.

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​Robert Sherman, who wrote iconic songs for Disney such as "It's A Small World (After All)," Mary Poppins' "Chim Chim Cher-ee" and "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," passed away in London at the age of 86.

His son Jeff announced the sad news to fans via Facebook yesterday. He wrote:

"I have very sad news to convey. My Dad, Robert B. Sherman, passed away tonight in London. He went peacefully after months of truly valiantly fending off death. He loved life and his dear heart finally slowed to a stop when he could fight no more."

Sherman worked at the Walt Disney Studios as a songwriting duo with his brother, Richard. The brothers wrote the lyrics and music together, and won two Oscars for their work on Mary Poppins.More >>

​Davy Jones, former lead singer of the made-for-TV band the Monkees, died today in a hospital in Florida, apparently of a heart attack. He was 66.

The star of the NBC comedy series was born in Manchester, England. The Monkees, partly inspired in part by the Beatles movie A Hard Day's Night, turned Jones and his faux band--made up of Micky Dolenz, Michael Nesmith and Peter Tork--into stars. 

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Six-time GRAMMY (r) winner Whitney Houston was one of the world's greatest pop singers of all time who leaves behind a robust musical soundtrack spanning the past three decades. Her powerful voice graced many memorable and award-winning songs. A light has been dimmed in our music community today, and we extend our deepest condolences to her family, friends, fans and all who have been touched by her beautiful voice.

Neil Portnow
President/CEO
The Recording Academy(r)

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Had he not passed away on Feb. 10, 2006, beloved hip-hop producer J Dilla would have turned 38 years young Tuesday. Although his official cause of death is cardiac arrest, Dilla suffered from a rare blood disorder called thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura.

In honor of J Dilla's birthday, his premature passing and his awesomeness, we are going to post one must-hear track every day until Friday.

Happy birthday, J Dilla, and rest in peace! More >>

​Had he not passed away on Feb. 10, 2006, beloved hip-hop producer J Dilla would have turned 38 years young Tuesday.

In honor of J Dilla's birthday, his passing (Dilla suffered from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, although is official cause of death is cardiac arrest) and his awesomeness, we are going to post one must-hear track every day until Friday.

Happy birthday J Dilla and rest in peace! More >>

​Had he not passed away on Feb. 10, 2006, beloved hip-hop producer J Dilla would have turned 38 years young yesterday.

In honor of J Dilla's birthday, his passing (Dilla suffered from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, although is official cause of death is cardiac arrest) and his awesomeness, we are going to post one must-hear track every day until Friday.

Happy birthday J Dilla and rest in peace!


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​Had he not passed away on Feb. 10, 2006, beloved hip-hop producer J Dilla would have turned 38 years young today.

Not the household name of say a Dr. Dre, Timbaland or Jermaine Dupri, the man born James Dewitt Yancey was -- and remains -- an underground hip-hop icon thanks to his work with De La Soul, A Tribe Called Quest, Busta Rhymes, Common and MF Doom. Dilla was part of the Detroit-based groups 1st Down and Slum Village.


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