The American singer Gloria Gaynor recorded her big hit I Will Survive 30 years ago. She won a Grammy award and was crowned the Queen of Disco. She tells her audiences that she has survived despite a broken marriage, alcohol and drug abuse by becoming a born-again Christian and includes gospel songs such as He Gave Me Life in her concerts. She spends much of the year touring, and this autumn will be singing in Berlin, Moscow, Belgium and Panama. Gloria Gaynor is 60 today. RGT
Birthdays today
John S. Baxter, Head Master, Wells Cathedral School, 1986-2000, 70; Kevin Curran, cricketer and cricket coach, 50; Peter Gill, stage director, 70; Dianne Hayter, chief executive, European Parliamentary Labour Party, 1990-96, 60; Lord Jenkin of Roding, Secretary of State for Industry, 1981-83, 83; Sir Douglas Lovelock, First Church Estates Commissioner, 1983-93, 86.