Gloria Gaynor Still Surviving

Written By Mike Greenblatt
Gloria Gaynor

One of the strongest female-empowering—and gay-empowering—anthems of all-time is easily Gloria Gaynor’s “I Will Survive.” It sounds as fresh and vital today as it did upon its 1978 release to shoot straight to #1, revitalize disco music, and add deep layers to her celebrity. Gaynor, from Newark, was 35 at the time. Now 81, Gaynor refuses retirement. She recently told Warren Kurtz of goldminemag.com that she “just loves continuing to sing, record and perform.” Thus, her new Happy Tears EP is filled with five gems.

Gaynor has always been a survivor. She graduated college at 65 with a psychology degree. A 2023 documentary, Gloria Gaynor: I Will Survive, was followed by a 2024 Lifetime Cable Network biopic, Robin Roberts Presents I Will Survive: The Gloria Gaynor Story, starring Broadway star Joaquina Kalukango. She’s currently touring Europe and will perform in New York City this October.

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Mike Greenblatt

MIKE GREENBLATT has been writing for Goldmine magazine and New Jersey's Aquarian Weekly for more than 35 years. His writing subjects fill the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

He's interviewed Joe Cocker, Graham Nash, David Crosby, Carlos Santana, Bruce Springsteen, Paul McCartney, Johnny Cash, and members of The Rolling Stones and The Beatles. He was 18 when he attended Woodstock in 1969.

In addition to writing about music, Greenblatt has worked on publicity campaigns for The Animals, Pat Benatar, Johnny Winter, Tommy James and Richard Branson, among others. He is currently the editor of The Jersey Sound.

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