The Trammps
| The Trammps | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Philadelphia, United States |
| Genres | Disco, soul |
| Years active | 1972–1980 |
| Labels | Golden Fleece Records Atlantic Records Buddah Records Philadelphia International Records |
| Website | Official website |
| Past members | Jimmy Ellis Gene "Faith" Jones Dennis Harris John Hart Steve Kelly Ron Kersey Michael Thomas Stanley Wade Earl Young Robert Upchurch Harold Doc Wade Dave Dixon |
The Trammps were an American disco and soul band, who were based in Philadelphia and were one of the first disco bands. The band's first major success was with their 1972 cover version of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart". The first disco track they released was "Love Epidemic" in 1973. However, they are best known for their Grammy winning song, "Disco Inferno", originally released in 1976 becoming a UK pop hit and US R&B hit, then re-released in 1978 and becoming a US pop hit. The music journalist Ron Wynn noted "the Trammps' prowess can't be measured by chart popularity; Ellis' booming, joyous vocals brilliantly championed the celebratory fervor and atmosphere that made disco both loved and hated among music fans."[1]
Contents |
History [edit]
The seeds of the Trammps grew from the 1960s outfit, the Volcanos, who later became the Moods.[1] With a number of line-up changes by the mid-1970s the band membership included Jimmy Ellis, Barrington McDonald (guitarist and a founding member), Norman Harris and Earl Young with Stanley Wade plus Robert Upchurch joining later on. Their debut chart entry came via their upbeat cover version of "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart", a Top 20 US R&B chart hit in 1972.[1][2]
Their single "Disco Inferno" (1976), which was included on the Grammy Award winning Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in 1977,[3] reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1978.[4]
Other major hits included "Hold Back the Night" (1975) (UK #5[5]) and "That's Where the Happy People Go" (1976). In late 1977, the Trammps released the song "The Night the Lights Went Out" to commemorate the electrical blackout that affected New York on July 13, 1977.
Their signature song, "Disco Inferno", has been covered by Tina Turner and Cyndi Lauper. In addition, Graham Parker covered "Hold Back The Night" on the "The Pink Parker EP" in 1977, and reached #20 in the UK Singles Chart,[6] and Top 60 in the US.
On September 19, 2005, the groups' signature record "Disco Inferno" was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in New York. During the ceremony, the original band members performed together for the first time in twenty five years.
Two versions of the group, with differing line-ups, currently tour the nostalgia circuit.[7]
On March 8, 2012, lead singer Jimmy Ellis died at a nursing home in Rock Hill, South Carolina, at the age of 74. The cause of death was not immediately known but he suffered from Alzheimers' disease.[2]
Discography [edit]
Albums [edit]
| Year | Title | Label | US Billboard 200[8] | US R&B[8] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | The Legendary Zing Album | Buddah Records | — | — |
| 1975 | Trammps | Golden Fleece Records | 159 | 30 |
| 1976 | Where the Happy People Go | Atlantic Records | 50 | 13 |
| 1976 | Disco Inferno | Atlantic Records | 46 | 16 |
| 1977 | The Trammps III | Atlantic Records | 85 | 27 |
| 1979 | The Whole World's Dancing | Atlantic Records | 184 | — |
| 1980 | Mixin' It Up | Atlantic Records | — | — |
| 1980 | Slipping Out | Atlantic Records | — | — |
Compilation albums [edit]
| Year | Title | Label | US Billboard 200[8] | US R&B[8] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | The Best of the Trammps | Atlantic Records | 139 | 57 |
Singles [edit]
| Year | Title | US Billboard Hot 100[4] | US R&B[4] | UK Singles Chart[5] |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | "Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart" | 64 | 17 | 29 |
| 1972 | "Sixty Minute Man" | — | — | 40 |
| 1973 | "Pray All You Sinners" | — | 34 | — |
| 1973 | "Love Epidemic" | — | 75 | — |
| 1974 | "Where Do We Go From Here" | — | 44 | — |
| 1974 | "Trusting Heart" | — | 72 | — |
| 1975 | "Hooked for Life" | — | 70 | — |
| 1975 | "Rubber Band" | — | — | — |
| 1976 | "Hold Back The Night" | 35 | 10 | 5 |
| 1976 | "That's Where the Happy People Go" | 27 | 12 | 35 |
| 1976 | "Soul Searchin' Time" | — | 67 | 42 |
| 1976 | "Disco Inferno" | 53 | 9 | 16 |
| 1977 | ""I Feel Like I've Been Livin' (On The Dark Side Of The Moon)" | — | 52 | — |
| 1977 | "The Night The Lights Went Out" | — | 80 | — |
| 1978 | "Disco Inferno" (re-release) | 11 | — | 47 |
| 1978 | "Seasons for Girls" | — | 50 | — |
| 1978 | "Soul Bones" | — | 91 | — |
| 1983 | "Up On The Hill" | — | — | — |
| 1992 | "Hold Back The Night" - (KWS features guest vocals from the Trammps) | — | — | 30 |
Band members [edit]
- Ronnie Baker - (Bass, Vocals), 1947–1990
- Jimmy Ellis (lead vocals), 1937–2012.[9]
- Barrington McDonald (Guitar) 1942 - 2007
- Gene Faith a.k.a. Gene Jones (original lead vocalist)
- Dennis Harris (Guitar)
- Norman Harris - (Guitar, vocals), 1947–1987
- John Hart (Organ), 1941–2008 [10]
- Steve Kelly (vocals)
- Ron Kersey b. Tyrone G. Kersey - (Keyboards), 1945–2005
- Michael Thomas (drums)
- Robert Upchurch (vocals)
- Harold Doc Wade (Guitar, Vocals)
- Stanley Wade (Bass, Vocals)
- Earl Young - (Drums, Vocals), b. 1940
Later members [edit]
- Jerry Collins - (Vocal)
- Jimmy Williams - (Lead vocal) [11]
Stan Wade & Robert Upchurch Trammps
- Ed Cermanski - (Keyboard)
- Dave Dixon - (Vocals)
- Mike Natalini - (Drums)
- Rusty Stone - (Bass)
- Harold Watkins - (Brass)
- Ruben Henderson - (Brass)
- Fred Vesci - (Keyboard) [12]
See also [edit]
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
- Ron Kersey, a one-time band member and songwriter
- "Hate It or Love It", a single by The Game sampling a Trammps beat
References [edit]
- ^ a b c "Biography by Ron Wynn". Allmusic.com. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
- ^ a b Dys, Andrew (March 8, 2012). "'Disco Inferno' singer Jimmy Ellis of Rock Hill dies at 74". The Herald (Rock Hill, SC). Retrieved March 9, 2012.
- ^ Allmusic.com / Grammy Awards
- ^ a b c "Charts & Awards / Billboard Singles". Allmusic.com. Retrieved February 23, 2011.
- ^ a b Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 564. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 417. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
- ^ Biography at Soultracks.com - accessed February 2011
- ^ a b c d Allmusic.com / Billboard Albums
- ^ "Jimmy Ellis Dies at 74; Lead Singer in Dance Band Trammps". www.nytimes.com. March 08,2012. Retrieved March 09, 2012.
- ^ article.wn.com John Hart Jr., 67, an original Trammp
- ^ Lyrics Vault Trammps
- ^ thetrammps.net Band Members
External links [edit]
- Official website
- Trammps Biography
- The Trammps Live in Europe
- Trammps page on Soulwalking website
- Soulful Kinda Music, Trammps Discography
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