Born in the Dorchester neighbourhood of Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Donna Summer (born LaDonna Adrian Gaines on New Year's Eve 1948) was one of seven children raised by devout Christian parents. She sang in church, and in her teens joined a funk group called The Crow, so named because Donna was the only black member of the group. At eighteen, Gaines left home and school to audition for a role in the cast of the Broadway musical, Hair (1968).