Representative Albums: "This Is Where the Happy People Go: The Best of the Trammps," "Disco Inferno," "The Best of the Trammps"
Representative Songs: "Disco Inferno," "Hold Back the Night," "That's Where the Happy People"
Biography
Disco's most soulful vocal group began in the '60s as the Volcanos, and were also called the Moods. Gene Faith was the original lead vocalist, with Earl Young, Jimmy Ellis, guitarist Dennis Harris, keyboardist Ron Kersey, organist John Hart, bassist Stanley Wade, and drummer Michael Thomas. But by the time they'd gone through various identities and emerged as the Trammps in the mid-'70s, the lineup featured lead vocalist Ellis, Norman Harris, and Stanley Wade, Robert Upchurch and Young. A snappy revival of Judy Garland's '40s tune "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart" was their first chart single, reaching number 17 on the R&B list in 1972. Despite their well-deserved reputation and boisterous, jubilant harmonies and sound, the Trammps were never a huge commercial success even during disco's heyday. Indeed, they had only three R&B Top Ten hits from 1972 through 1978, and such wonderful records as "Soul Bones," "Ninety-Nine and a Half," and "I Feel Like I've Been Livin' (On the Dark Side of the Moon)" stiffed on the charts though they were beloved by club audiences and R&B fans alike. Their only huge hit was "Disco Inferno" in 1977, which was a number nine R&B single in 1977 and was also featured on the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack. Yet it missed the pop Top Ten, peaking at number 11. But 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. ~ Ron Wynn, All Music Guide
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 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.
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.
Discography
The Legendary Zing Album (The Trammps) 1972 [Buddah Records]
