The Trammps, based in Philadelphia, were one of the first disco bands. Their 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.

They are most remembered for their hit 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 of 1978.

Other hits included Hold Back the Night (1975) and That's Where the Happy People Go (1975).

In 1977, the Trammps released the song The Night the Lights Went Out to commemorate the electrical blackout that affected New York City on July 13, 1977 (see New York City Blackout of 1977). In 2000, a member of the group, 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.

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 City.