Gloria Gaynor

Though R&B singer Gloria Gaynor enjoyed only a handful of hit singles at the height of the disco era, she stood apart from countless other successful artists by virtue of having recorded a genuine anthem - the soaring "I Will Survive" - which remained a battle cry for empowerment in all forms for the next three decades. Gaynor rose to fame in 1975 with the melancholy disco hit "Never Can Say Goodbye," but would not find true stardom until 1979, when "I Will Survive" topped the Billboard Hot 100. Widely embraced by a variety of listeners, from dance fans to the women's and gay pride movements, the song would become Gaynor's most enduring hit, as well as her last significant single; the backlash against disco would unmoor her career, which turned her briefly to Christian music before Gaynor returned to the dance fold. Countless cover versions and tireless radio airplay, along with Gaynor's willingness to perform the tune on any number of television series, talk shows and in live performance, kept the song's legacy alive, and in doing so, cemented Gaynor's status as one of disco's longest-reigning queens.