Evelyn Thomas, disco singer behind “High Energy”, dies at the age of 70

Disco singer Evelyn Thomas, whose voice and songs shaped the Hi-NRG scene of the 1980s, has died at the age of 70.

The Chicago-born artist had her biggest hit in 1984 with “High Energy,” which entered the top five in the UK and also reached the top of the club charts in the US. The song sold over seven million copies.

Ian Levine, Thomas’ longtime producer, announced the news of her death on social media, writing: “I find it difficult to accept that my lifelong protégé has truly left us. Her music will outlive us all.”

Her daughter Kimberly also posted an obituary online, saying: “The legacy my mother left me is indescribable and the memories are undeniably priceless. I want to thank everyone for their prayers and kind words. Now it is time to heal and plan. Rest in peace, Mom.”

Born in August 1953, Thomas grew up around music as her mother was an organist and her grandmother sang in the church choir. She was discovered in 1975 by Levine, a Manchester man who travelled to the US in the hope of finding talent for his Voltafine Production Company, when she sang with her band The Move Mixers.

The pair subsequently collaborated on a number of songs, and Levine helped Thomas get a contract with 20th Century Records to release several singles. The first of these, “Weak Spot”, reached number 26 in the UK charts and earned Thomas an appearance on Top Of The Pops following its release in 1976.

The follow-up single “Doomsday” and two albums did not reach the top 40 of the charts, but Thomas nevertheless became a permanent fixture on the Northern Soul tour and performed with fellow singers Barbara Pennington and LJ Johnson as the “Chicago Soul Revue”.

In 1984, Thomas reunited with Levine to record “High Energy,” which was a hit in both the UK and the US. It was considered a defining song for the Hi-NRG movement.

Thomas and Levine lost touch after their last recording session together in 2009, Levine said in his tribute, but Thomas recently got in touch again after learning that she was dying.

Levine and his “High Energy” co-writer Fiachra Trench then set about writing one final song for Thomas, titled “Inspirational,” but she was unfortunately too ill to record it before she died.

Instead, her daughter intends to record the song as a final tribute to her mother.

Read Levine and Kimberly Thomas’ tributes below and listen to “High Energy.”