James T. Ellis, 'Disco Inferno' Singer and Member of The Trammps, dies at 74

ROCK HILL, S.C. -- James T. "Jimmy" Ellis, who belted out the refrain "Burn, baby burn!" in a 1970s-era disco hit that's still replayed in modern sports arenas, has died. He was 74. David Turner of Bass-Cauthen Funeral Home in Rock Hill, S.C., said the frontman for The Trammps died Thursday at a nursing home in the city. A cause of death was not immediately known. The Trammps released "Disco Inferno" – the song with the popular refrain – in 1976. The song was featured in the iconic movie "Saturday Night Fever," its soundtrack winning the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1978. "Disco Inferno" soared up to No. 11 on Billboard's Hot 100 on May 27, 1978. Turner said a memorial service will be held Friday in Charlotte, N.C.   The Trammps were an American disco 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."

History 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, 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 Panther 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 inNew 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

Discography [edit]Albums Year Title Label USBillboard 200[8] USR&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 — — [edit]Compilation albums Year Title Label USBillboard 200[8] USR&B[8] 1978 The Best of the Trammps Atlantic Records 139 57 [edit]Singles Year Title USBillboard Hot 100[4] USR&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 [edit]Band members Ronnie Baker - (Bass, Vocals), 1947–1990 Jimmy Ellis (lead vocals), 1937–2012.[9] 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 [edit]Later members 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)

2ND MOST SOLD MOVIE SOUNDTRACK ALBUM - "DISCO INFERNO"  Album Artist Millions  Sold 1. The Bodyguard: Original Soundtrack Album The S.O.U.L. S.Y.S.T.E.M 17 2. Saturday Night Fever: The Original Movie Sound Track David Shire 15 3. Music from the Motion Picture “Purple Rain” Prince 13 4. Dirty Dancing: Original Soundtrack From The Motion Picture Various Artists 11 5. Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture James Horner 11 6. The Lion King: Special Edition Various Artists 10 7. Footloose (1984 Film) Shalamar 9 8. Top Gun Soundtrack Various Artists 9 9. Grease (Original 1978 Motion Picture Soundtrack) Olivia Newton-John 8 10. Waiting To Exhale: Original Soundtrack Album Aretha Franklin 7 11. O Brother, Where Art Thou? Various Artists 7 12. The Big Chill – 15th Anniversary: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Various Artists 6 13. Flashdance: Original Soundtrack from the Motion Picture Various Artists 6 14. Pure Country [Original Motion Picture Soundtrack] George Strait 6 15. Forrest Gump Various Artists 6 16. Space Jam: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture Various Artists 6 17. City Of Angels: Music From The Motion Picture Gabriel Yared 5 18. Sleepless In Seattle: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack Various Artists 4 19. Armageddon: The Album Various Artists 4 20. 8 Mile: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture Eminem 4