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.
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
Cyndi 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.
Discography
- Up On The Hill 1983 (12" Release)(9:20) / Up On The Hill (Instrumental)(5:23)
Singles
- 1972 "Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart" US HOT 100 #64, US R&B #17
- 1972 "Sixty Minute Man" US BUB UNDER #108
- 1973 "Pray All You Sinners" US R&B #34
- 1973 "Love Epidemic" US R&B #75
- 1974 "Where Do We Go From Here" US R&B #44
- 1974 "Trusting Heart" US BUB UNDER #101, US R&B #72
- 1975 "Hooked For Life" US R&B #70
- 1975 "Save a place" NL #40
- 1976 "Hold Back The Night" US HOT 100 #35, US R&B #10
- 1976 "That's Where The Happy People Go" US HOT 100 #27, US R&B #12
- 1976 "Soul Searchin' Time" US R&B #67
- 1976 "Ninety-Nine And A Half" US BUB UNDER #105, US R&B #76
- 1977 "Disco Inferno" US HOT 100 #53
- 1977 "I Feel Like I've Been Livin' (On The Dark Side Of The Moon)" US BUB UNDER #105, US R&B #52
- 1977 "The Night The Lights Went Out" US BUB UNDER #104, US R&B #80
- 1978 "Disco Inferno" (RE-RELEASE) US HOT 100 #11, US R&B #9
- 1978 "Seasons For Girls" US R&B #50
- 1978 "Soul Bones" US R&B #91
- 1983 "Up On The Hill (Mt. U) US R&B #79
Members
Original lineup
- Ed Cermanski - keyboard/piano
Early 1980s lineup
- Harold Wade - vocals/guitar
See also
