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Original member of The Trammps passes away http://www.philly.com/dai...ammps.html
Posted on Fri, Apr. 18, 2008
John Hart Jr., 67, original member of Philly-based Trammps By JOHN F. MORRISON Philadelphia Daily News JOHN HART JR., an original member of the popular Philly-based disco group the Trammps, a devoted Jehovah's Witness and a snappy dresser, died April 11 of a heart attack. He was 67 and lived in West Philadelphia. The Trammps recorded such hits as "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart," "Where Do We Go From Here," "Where the Happy People Go," and their biggest hit, "Disco Inferno," which became part of the soundtrack to the movie "Saturday Night Fever." Before the creation of the Trammps, John, called Jack by his friends, helped put together the Philly soul group, the Volcanos, which had a big hit with "Storm Warning" in 1965. Later, he and some cousins and a few friends formed the Trammps. The group performed all over the U.S. and Europe, where their popularity packed houses. John's day job was as a welder, and he taught welding at the Airco Technical Institute. For a time, he and his family lived in New Orleans, where he worked for NASA. Besides singing, John played the organ with the Trammps and other groups. He was born in Philadelphia to Hazel and John Hart Sr., who was a professional tap dancer. John graduated from West Philadelphia High School in 1958. In 1963, he married Dolores Saulsbury. "An impeccable and always well-groomed man, John loved family, food and friends," said his niece Michelle Baldwin. "John had an awesome personality, which left a lasting impression on everyone he met." John was a member of Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, "where he greatly enjoyed the fellowship of his brothers," his niece said. Besides his wife of 45 years, he is survived by three sons, John III, Terry and Ryan; a sister, Barbara; six grandchildren, and one great-grandchild. "Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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So which one is he in the video? | |
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RIP, what's the lead singer's name, anyone know? | |
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NuPwr319 said: So which one is he in the video?
This article, like the one above, says he was an organist, but I really don't think that looks like him in the video.   So, I'm not sure. 
John "Jack" Hart Jr., 67, of West Philadelphia, an organist and one of the original members of the Grammy-winning soul group the Trammps, died of heart failure last Friday at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Mr. Hart, whose father, John Sr., was a hoofer, taught himself to play keyboard while at West Philadelphia High School. After graduating in 1958, he joined the Air Force and was a military policeman in Vietnam in the early 1960s. He was discharged in 1965. He married Dolores Saulsbury in 1963 and they raised three musically inclined sons in West Philadelphia. "All of our sons went on to form a band," Mr. Hart's wife said. "Our home was full of music." Mr. Hart was one of the original members of the R&B group the Volcanoes in the mid-1960s. The group underwent some personnel changes and emerged as the Trammps in the mid-1970s, with Mr. Hart on the organ. The Trammps recorded a snappy version of Judy Garland's 1940s tune "Zing Went the Strings of My Heart" in 1972. It was one of three of the Trammps' R&B top-10 hits from 1972 to 1978. Though not a huge commercial success, the group delighted dance fans. Throughout the 1970s, the Trammps toured the States, Europe and South America. Their biggest hit was "Disco Inferno," which was featured in the 1977 movie Saturday Night Fever. The movie soundtrack won a Grammy in 1978. To bring in more money to support his family, Mr. Hart became a welding instructor in the mid-1970s at the former Airco Technical Institute at 46th and Chestnut Streets. Mr. Hart stopped touring with the Trammps in 1978, when he and his family moved to New Orleans, where he worked as a welder for NASA until he returned to West Philadelphia in 1986. "Even when Pop was welding, he did it to a musical beat. He tapped his toes," said his son Ryan. "He had to quit touring with the band while he was in New Orleans, but he flew to recording studios whenever he could." Mr. Hart continued working as a welding instructor and played as many gigs as he could until he had to have a leg amputated because of diabetes in 2007. Mr. Hart was known for his impressive personality and immaculate attire. "He had his nails done, his hair and mustache trimmed regularly, favored elegant suits, always wore a hat, and drove a silver Mercury Marquis," his son said. "Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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Timmy84 said: RIP, what's the lead singer's name, anyone know?
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. 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. (from wiki) "Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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The article said he was "an organist", it did not say that, he was an organist for the "Tramps", (he might have played something else). It just says that he was one of the original members. "Love is like peeing in your pants, everyone sees it but only you feel its warmth" | |
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noimageatall said: Timmy84 said: RIP, what's the lead singer's name, anyone know?
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. 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. (from wiki) Thanks.  | |
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shorttrini said: The article said he was "an organist", it did not say that, he was an organist for the "Tramps", (he might have played something else). It just says that he was one of the original members.
The group underwent some personnel changes and emerged as the Trammps in the mid-1970s, with Mr. Hart on the organ.
Maybe he was sick that day.  "Let love be your perfect weapon..." ~~Andy Biersack | |
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