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Biography
Infobox musical artist| name = The Trammps| image =| caption =| image_size =| background = group_or_band| alias =| origin = Philadelphia , United States | genre = Disco , Soul music|soul | years_active = 1972& ndash;1980| label = Golden Fleece Records Atlantic Records Buddah Records Philadelphia International Records | associated_acts =| website = http://www.thetrammps.net Official website| current_members =| 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 United States|American disco and soul music|soul musical ensemble|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& #33; Went the Strings of My Heart ". The first disco track they released was "Love Epidemic" in 1973. However, they are best known for their 21st Grammy Awards|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 journalism|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."cite web |first= |last= |url=Allmusic|class=artist|id=p5685/biography|pure_url=yes|title=Biography by Ron Wynn |publisher=Allmusic.com |accessdate=February 23, 2011
History
The seeds of the Trammps grew from the 1960s outfit, the Volcanos, who later became the Moods. 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 (drummer)|Earl Young with Stanley Wade plus Robert Upchurch joining later on. Their debut record chart|chart entry came via their upbeat cover version of " Zing& #33; Went the Strings of My Heart ", a Top 40|Top 20 US Hot R& B/Hip-Hop Songs|R& B chart hit record|hit in 1972.cite news |first=Andrew |last=Dys |work= The Herald (Rock Hill)|The Herald |location= Rock Hill, SC |title='Disco Inferno' singer Jimmy Ellis of Rock Hill dies at 74 |url= http://www.heraldonline.com/2012/03/08/3804499/singer-of-disco-inferno-jimmy.html |date=March 8, 2012 |accessdate=March 9, 2012
Their single (music)|single " Disco Inferno " (1976), which was included on the Grammy Award winning Saturday Night Fever (soundtrack)|Saturday Night Fever soundtrack in 1977, http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-trammps-p5685/charts-awards/grammy-awards Allmusic.com / Grammy Awards reached #11 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart in May 1978.cite web |first= |last= |url= http://www.allmusic.com/artist/the-trammps-p5685/charts-awards/billboard-singles |title=Charts & Awards / Billboard Singles|publisher=Allmusic.com |accessdate=February 23, 2011
Other major hits included "Hold Back the Night" (1975) ( UK Singles Chart|UK #5cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 564) 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 Power outage|blackout that affected New York City|New York on New York City Blackout of 1977|July 13, 1977 .
Their signature song, "Disco Inferno", has been Cover version|covered by Tina Turner and Cyndi Lauper . In addition, Graham Parker cover version|covered "Hold Back The Night" on the "The Pink Panther EP" in 1977, and reached #20 in the UK Singles Chart ,cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 417 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 City|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. http://www.soultracks.com/trammps.htm Biography at Soultracks.com - accessed February 2011
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.
Discography
Albums
Year
Title
Label
US Billboard 200 http:/ / www.allmusic.com/ artist/ the-trammps-p5685/ charts-awards/ billboard-albums Allmusic.com / Billboard Albums
""I Feel Like I've Been Livin' (On The Dark Side Of The Moon)"
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52
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1977
"The Night The Lights Went Out"
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80
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1978
"Disco Inferno" (re-release)
11
—
47
1978
"Seasons for Girls"
—
50
—
1978
"Soul Bones"
—
91
—
1983
"Up On The Hill"
—
—
—
1992
KWS features guest vocals from the Trammps)
—
—
30
Band members
Ronnie Baker - (Bass, Vocals), 1947& ndash;1990
Jimmy Ellis (lead vocals), 1937& ndash;2012.cite web | url= http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/09/arts/music/jimmy-ellis-74-lead-singer-in-dance-band-trammps.html? _r=1& partner=rss& emc=rss | title=Jimmy Ellis Dies at 74; Lead Singer in Dance Band Trammps | publisher=www.nytimes.com | date=March 08,2012 | accessdate=March 09, 2012
Barrington McDonald (Guitar) 1942 - 2007
Gene Faith a.k.a. Gene Jones (original lead vocalist)
Dennis Harris (Guitar)
Norman Harris - (Guitar, vocals), 1947& ndash;1987
John Hart (Organ), 1941& ndash;2008 article.wn.com http://article.wn.com/view/2008/04/18/John_Hart_Jr_67_an_original_Trammp/ John Hart Jr., 67, an original Trammp
Steve Kelly (vocals)
Ron Kersey b. Tyrone G. Kersey - (Keyboards), 1945& ndash;2005
Grammy Award for Album of the Year 1970s DEFAULTSORT:Trammps, The Category:Disco groups Category:American dance music groups Category:American rhythm and blues musical groups Category:American soul musical groups Category:Musical groups from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Category:Atlantic Records artists Category:Grammy Award winners
