Gloria Gaynor Gloria Gaynor Gloria Gaynor (born September 7, 1949) is an American singer, best known for the disco era hits "I Will Survive" (Hot 100 number 1, 1979), "Never Can Say Goodbye" (Hot 100 number 9, 1974), "Let Me Know (I Have a Right)" (Hot 100 number 42, 1980) and "I Am What I Am" (R&B number 82, 1983). Gloria Fowles was born in 1949 in Newark, New Jersey, to Daniel Fowles and Queenie Mae Proctor. Her grandmother lived nearby and was involved in her upbringing. "There was always music in our house", Gaynor wrote in her autobiography, "I Will Survive".
I Am What I Am (Broadway musical song) I Am What I Am (Broadway musical song) "I Am What I Am" is a song originally introduced in the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical "La Cage aux Folles". The song is the finale number of the musical's first act, and performed by the character of Albin Mougeotte, first played by George Hearn. His version appears on the original cast album released in 1983. The song was composed by Jerry Herman, an openly gay man. The song was released as a single by Gloria Gaynor in 1983 and went on to become one of the singer's best known songs. A club