Legendary disco singer Donna Summer passed away this morning in Florida, at the age of 63.

The Queen of Disco died after struggling for years with lung cancer and sources close to the star said she had tried to hide the extent of her illness.

Those who had seen the star recently told TMZ that “she didn’t seem so bad”, adding that the Summer was “focused on trying to finish up an album she had been working on”.

The 5-time Grammy winner shot to superstardom in the ’70s with iconic hits like “Last Dance,” “Hot Stuff” and “Bad Girls”. And her appeal did not wane in the next decade when she captivated fans with songs like “On the Radio” and “I Feel Love”.

Summer was one of seven children and was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She was inspired by Motown groups like the Supremes and went on to birth several singing groups in the span of her Disco career.

She is also said to have influenced acts like Duran Duran and David Bowie who entered the Disco genre as well.

The loss of the great singer was mourned by fellow artists who took to Twitter to express their grief.

Mary J. Blige said Summer was “truly a game changer” and producer Quincy Jones described her as the “heartbeat and soundtrack of a decade”.

A statement from her family said:

“Early this morning, we lost Donna Summer Sudano, a woman of many gifts, the greatest being her faith

“While we grieve her passing, we are at peace celebrating her extraordinary life and continued legacy. Words truly can’t express how much we appreciate your prayers and love for our family at this sensitive time.”

Summer married Brookly Dreams singer Bruce Sudano in 1980 and they have two daughters together.