Jimmy Ellis 1938-2012 [Lead Singer of The Trammps]

[Zoneboy]

The man who had all of America doing The Hustle in 1977 and 1978 with the smash hit “Disco Inferno,” Rock Hill singer Jimmy Ellis, died this morning, his wife and brother said. He was 74.

Ellis and his band, The Trammps, reached No. 1 on Billboard magazine's dance charts in 1978 with "Disco Inferno" after it was featured on the "Saturday Night Fever" soundtrack and in the movie.

Ellis grew up in Rock Hill before moving to New Jersey and Philadelphia for most of his adult life. He returned to Rock Hill in 2000, and has battled Alzheimer’s disease the past three years after touring up until 2008.


"Disco Inferno" was one of the most popular hits of the disco era, and Ellis earned a Grammy award and gold record after the song took the country by storm after the release of the movie in 1977.

Ellis appeared on "Soul Train" and other popular television shows, and is one of South Carolina’s most successful musicians. "Disco Inferno," with its refrain, “Burn, Baby, burn,” was a hit that appealed to audiences all over the world.

“The song 'Disco Inferno' remains a big favorite in Europe to this day, and is played here and everywhere,” said Ellis’ wife of 46 years, Beverly.

Johnny Ellis, also a musician, said the hit song was a high point in his brother's life of singing.

“People remember that song - it was the biggest song in the world at one time,” Johnny Ellis said. “He was in Germany when the song became such a hit, and it was huge over there - and still is.”

"Disco Inferno" was inducted into Dance Music Hall of Fame in 2005.

Jimmy Ellis got his start singing with a Rock Hill group called the Four Knights in the 1950s, then moved to the Northeast after winning talent shows. He headlined a group called The Exceptions, then helped form the Trammps in the late 1960s.

Check back for updates on this story.

[catlover79]