Jimmy Ellis, ‘Disco Inferno’ Singer, Dies at 74

Singer Jimmy Ellis, whose signature dance anthem “Disco Inferno” burned up the music charts in the late 1970s and was immortalized in the hit movie Saturday Night Fever, died Thursday in his hometown of Rock Hill, South Carolina. He was 74.

Erika Stinson, the daughter of the former Trammps lead singer, told the New York Times that the cause of her father’s death was complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

The Times writes that Jimmy, whose full name is James Thomas Ellis II sang gospel as a teenager in St. Mary’s Church before he graduated from Emmett Scott High School and left for Philadelphia to sing with R&B groups like the Volcanoes and the Exceptions.

Ellis formed The Trammps in the early ’70s and the band experienced great success after releasing a cover version of “Zing! Went the Strings of My Heart” in 1972, which reached the Top 20 R&B charts the same year.

Four years later, the iconic group released its renowned hit song “Disco Inferno,” which immediately became an international success and won The Trammps its first ever Grammy Award in 1979.

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Jimmy Ellis, the voice behind the dance floor anthem “Disco Inferno,” passed away Thursday in South Carolina. He was 74.

Ellis died of complications from Alzheimer’s Disease, his daughter told the New York Times.

Ellis was the lead singer of Philadelphia-based funk band The Trammps, which released several R&B singles in the 1970s, including their Top 10 hit “Disco Inferno.”

The song – with its infectious “burn, baby, burn” refrain – helped propel sales of the Saturday Night Fever soundtrack to 15 million, making it the second only to “The Bodyguard” as the best-selling soundtrack of all time.

Besides his daughter, Jimmy Ellis is survived by his wife, Beverly and son James III, as well as three brothers, a sister, eight grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held on March 16 in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Watch below as Jimmy Ellis and The Trammps since Disco Inferno:

via NY Times