The Trammps
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The Trammps, based in Philadelphia, were one of the first disco bands. The band's first major success was with 1972's Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart. The first disco track they released was Love Epidemic in 1973.
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[edit] History
They are most remembered for their Grammy Award winning single "Disco Inferno" (1976), which was included on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in 1977 and achieved the Number 11 position on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1978.
Other major hits included Hold Back the Night (1975) and That's Where the Happy People Go (1976).
Renowned British pub-rocker, Graham Parker infamously delivered significant attention to "Hold Back The Night" when issuing a highly valued & often collectible 45 in (1977) that went to #20 in his native U.K., top 60 U.S. while garnering much A.O.R. airplay in this country.
In late 1977, the Trammps released the song "The Night the Lights Went Out" to commemorate the electrical blackout that affected New York on 13 July 1977 (see New York City Blackout of 1977).
In 2000, group member Jerry Mills Collins was convicted of beating his wife with a handgun on Valentine's Day when he suspected her of infidelity. Collins was found guilty and sentenced to 12-35 years in prison.
Their signature song, Disco Inferno, has been covered by some high profile artist including Tina Turner and Cindy Lauper.
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 25 years.
[edit] Discography
- The Legendary Zing Album (The Trammps) 1972 [Buddah Records]
- Trammps (1975, Golden Fleece Records)
- Where the Happy People Go (1976, Atlantic Records)
- Disco Inferno (1976, Atlantic Records)
- Disco Champs (The Trammps) 1977 Philadelphia International Records)
- The Trammps III (1977, Atlantic Records)
- The Whole World's Dancing (1979, Atlantic Records)
- Mixin' It Up (Atlantic 1980)
- Slipping Out (1980, Atlantic Records)
- Up On The Hill 1983 (12" Release)(9:20) / Up On The Hill (Instrumental)(5:23)
[edit] Members
[edit] Original lineup
- Norman Harris - vocals/guitar
- Ronnie Baker - vocals/bass
- Earl Young - vocals/drums
[edit] Early 1980s lineup
- Jimmy Ellis - vocals
- Robert Upchurch - vocals
- Harold Wade - vocals/guitar
- Stan Wade - vocals/bass
- Earl Young - vocals/drums
[edit] See also
- List of number-one dance hits (United States)
- List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
- Ron Kersey, a bandmember and songwriter
- Hate It or Love It, a single by The Game sampling a Trammps beat
