(PatriotPostNews.com) — Influential disco singer Evelyn Thomas has died at age 70. Thomas started her singing career as a gospel singer, became a disco singer and landed an international hit titled “High Energy” that skyrocketed her to stardom. She was born in Chicago, where she was discovered by British producer Ian Lavine and later the pair signed with Casablanca Records. Thomas’s smash single “High Energy” influenced the creation of the popular disco subgenre “Hi-NRG.”
Lavine announced the singer’s death via a post on Facebook. Lavine said he was struggling to accept that his “protégé” had “really left us.” Before her death, Lavine wrote one final song for Thomas to perform, however her health declined and she was not able to record the song. Her daughter, a recording artist named Kimberly, announced that she will sing it in her mother’s honor. Kimberly ended her statement with “RIP, mommy.”
Producer Ian Lavine first found Evelyn Thomas in 1975 and they signed onto Casablanca Records. Her first single, “Weak Spot,” became a hit in 1976. The single was written by Lavine and writer Paul David Wilson. Her first album was titled “Wanna Make It On My Own.” The album struggled and Thomas and Lavine separated from Casablanca Records and signed onto AVI Records.
In 1984, under AVI records, Thomas and Lavine produced her wildly successful album titled “High Energy.” The album ultimately pioneered an entire genre of music dubbed “hi-NRG.” Hi-NRG is a disco subgenre characterized by fast drum beats and synthesized instrumentals. The genre leaned heavily into dance music, but also offered elements of pop and other genres. Hi-NRG eventually inspired later genres like Techno and House.
Thomas’s single “High Energy” made it to the number one spot on the Billboard Hot Dance Club Play chart. The single also reached the 85th spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 list. Thomas attributed her love for music to her mother and grandmother, who both sang at their family’s church.
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