Gloria Gaynor

Gloria Gaynor Speaker Biography

Grammy Award-Winning “I Will Survive” Recording Artist,
Motivational Speaker, and Author

Legendary performer and global superstar, Gloria Gaynor, gave the keynote speech and received an honorary degree of doctor of music at the May 16th Dowling College 53rd Commencement Ceremony held at the Brookhaven Campus in Long Island, New York. The Queen of Disco spoke to the graduating class about the importance of protecting one’s character and championing those too weak to protect themselves. Work hard, be fair in your dealings with others and be certain that every one of your relationships has a basis in integrity and respect the people you meet from your own culture and others. Gloria is not a stranger to the rigors of a university course load. While maintaining her regular touring schedule taking her to several continents for concert performances each year, she completed her studies in Behavioral Sciences receiving her Bachelor’s Degree. This is part of Gloria’s goal of being able to better support and work with charities and organizations that help at risk youth and their families.

Grammy Award-Winning Recording Artist

A GRAMMY Award winning recording artist whose career spans the past forty years, Gloria Gaynor has never slowed down. She has had hit songs in the music charts in all four decades and has achieved global stardom and musical recognition. Gloria was honored at the World Music Awards in Monte Carlo with the coveted LEGEND award presented by long time fan Prince Albert of Monaco. Gloria continues to tirelessly tour the world performing at concerts and festivals in the USA, Europe, South America, and beyond each year. She is an author of two books and has also leant her talent to Broadway in, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” and TV, appearing on, “The Wayans Bros.,” “Ally McBeal,” and “That ‘70s Show.”

We Will Survive

Her second book, We Will Survive: True Stories of Encouragement, Inspiration, and the Power of Song, was just released at the end of 2013. The remarkable stories in this book reveal that the song, “I Will Survive,” has reached people from all walks of life and touched their lives in thousands of unique ways. From individuals triumphing over illness to those suffering from the painful loss of a loved one to others piecing their lives together after bearing witness to a national tragedy, “I Will Survive,” has become an emotional anthem for them and for millions of Gloria’s adoring fans around the world. Gloria’s audio recording of the book was nominated for a 2015 GRAMMY Award for Best Spoken Word Album. She was a featured presenter at this year’s GRAMMY Awards and the headliner at the award’s official after party, The GRAMMY Celebration.

Motivational Speaker

On top of her extensive concert schedule, she has been including additional tour dates focusing on her motivational speaking engagements. Gloria has been a keynote speaker at several major conferences including, SXSW (Austin, Texas), the CCU Women in Philanthropy & Leadership Conference (South Carolina), and GRAMMY’s on the Hill (Washington, DC.). Gloria was also the keynote speaker at the recent “Women In Music” 30th Anniversary Celebration (New York City). She was a featured presenter at both the 2015 GRAMMY Awards (Los Angeles, CA) and the 2015 GMA Dove Awards (Nashville, TN). Gloria also continues to pursue her passion of writing and recording new music. She has been spending time in Nashville, TN collaborating with several producers, including threetime GRAMMY Award winning songwriter, producer, Christopher Stevens as well as Bart Millard from the Billboard Christian Songs chart-topping band, Mercy Me.

I Will Survive

Says Gaynor, “’I Will Survive,’ should remind us to be proactive in this world. In trying times, people are always looking for answers and direction of what to do and where to go next. So is it really so hard to believe that ‘I Will Survive’ has more relevance now than it did in 1979? Through this song we can relate to a woman who has faced the same struggles and summoned the strength to rise above and survive. When you are knocked down you get back up, shrug off the hit and survive – don’t be afraid of the future!”