circa 1978
The Trammps line-up comprised of (at various stages):
Sixties line-up:
James Thomas Ellis II (vocals) (b. 15th November 1937, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.A. d. 8th March 2012, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.A.)
Gene Faith a.k.a. Gene Jones (original lead vocalist)
Steve Kelly (vocals)
Earl Young (vocals / drums)
Dennis Harris (guitarist)
Ron Kersey b. Tyrone G. Kersey, 7th April 1945 d. 25th January 2005 (keyboardist)
John Hart (organist)
Stanley Wade (vocals / bass)
and
Michael Thomas (drums)
Seventies line-up:
James Thomas Ellis II (lead vocalist) (b. 15th November 1937, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.A. d. 8th March 2012, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.A.)
Harold Doc Wade (vocals / guitar)
Stanley Wade (vocals / bass)
Robert Upchurch (vocals)
and
Earl Young (vocals / drums)
Eighties line-up:
James Thomas Ellis II (lead vocalist) (b. 15th November 1937, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.A. d. 8th March 2012, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.A.)
Robert Upchurch (vocals)
Harold Doc Wade (vocals / guitar)
Stanley Wade (vocals / bass)
and
Earl Young (vocals / drums)
Current line-up:
James Thomas Ellis II (lead vocalist) (b. 15th November 1937, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.A. d. 8th March 2012, Rock Hill, South Carolina, U.S.A.)
Harold Doc Wade (vocals / guitar)
Stanley Wade (vocals / bass)
and
Dave Dixon
The Trammps were originally from Philadelphia.
the volcanos / storm warning 45 - 1965
They were formed by Earl Young and Jimmy Ellis in 1972, two former members of the Volcanos (and were also called The Cardells circa 1958-1959), who had some local success with their R & B singles, 'Storm Warning' b/w 'Baby', 'Make Your Move' b/w 'Baby', and 'You're Number One' b/w 'Make Your Move'.
The group recorded for the Arctic, Harthon and Virtue labels.
They became known as the Body Motions for a while, with the line-up comprising Gene Jones, Steve Kelly, John Hart, Stanley Wade, Harold Wade and Earl Young.
The group were later joined by Dennis Harris (guitar), Ron Kersey (keyboards), John Hart (organ), Stanley Wade (bass) and Michael Thompson (drums), taking their name from a tease that 'all (they would) ever be were tramps!'.
the legendary zing album - 1972 / trammps - 1975
Initially, the Tramps (using just one 'm' in their name at the time for the first issue) gained its reputation covering old standards, of which 'Zing Went The Strings Of My Heart' b/w 'Penguin At The Big Apple' (in 1972 on Buddah Records) was a minor hit.
The song was a remake of a tune originally recorded by Judy Garland in 1943.
The group added an additional 'm' to their name and released the album of the same name, which featured a follow up single, 'Sixty Minute Man'.
The ensemble then set up their own imprint, Golden Fleece, and had a major U.K. hit, in 1975, with the song 'Hold Back The Night', which reached number 40 on the pop charts and 10 on the R & B charts.
Another hit 'Where Do We Go From Here', reached number 44 on the R & B charts in 1974.
where the happy people go - 1976 / disco inferno - 1976
By 1976, the group had relocated to the Atlantic label where, 'Where the Happy People Go' was to become their biggest pop hit to date, reaching 27 in the charts.
disco champs - 1977 / trammps III - 1977
Further hits on Atlantic included, 'Disco Party', 'Body Contact', 'I Fell Like I've Been Livin' (On The Dark Side Of The Moon)', 'The Night The Lights Went Out', and 'Soul Bones' (which featured a harmonica solo by Stevie Wonder).
In 1978 , their song 'Disco Inferno', was featured in the film 'Saturday Night Fever', a tune which became one of the major hits of the Disco era.
The song went on to be one the industries biggest selling albums to date, resulting in the group winning a Grammy Award in 1979.
the whole world's dancing - 1979
By this time, the Trammps had added to their numbers, with Earl Young and Jimmy Ellis, remaining at the helm, alongside brothers Stan and Harold 'Doc' Wade and baritone Robert Upchurch.
Following the Disco boom, the bust which followed took it's toll on the group's success.
mixin' it up - 1980 / slipping out - 1980
The group remained a unit until 1980 at which time they disbanded and embarked on solo careers.
In the new millennium the Trammps continue to tour, at times in the United States, Canada, Europe, Asia and South America.
Today's line-up features:
Jimmy Ellis, Harold Doc Wade, Stanley Wade and Dave Dixon
In 2000, ex group member Jerry Mills Collins was convicted of beating his wife with a handgun on Valentine's Day when he suspected her of infidelity. He was imprisoned.
In January 2005, Ron Kersey sadly passed away.
In March 2012, Jimmy Ellis sadly passed away from Alzheimer’s disease.
On the 19th of September 2005 the groups biggst hit, 'Disco Inferno' was inducted into the Dance Music Hall of Fame at a ceremony held in New York.
Albums:
The Legendary Zing Album (Buddah Records 1972)
Trammps (Golden Fleece Records 1975)
Where The Happy People Go (Atlantic Records 1976)
Disco Inferno (Atlantic Records 1976)
Trammps Ill (Atlantic Records 1977)
The Whole World's Dancing (Atlantic Records 1979)
Mixin' It Up (Atlantic Records 1980)
Slipping Out (Atlantic Records 1981)
