Evelyn Thomas, Voice of 1980s Disco Hit 'High Energy,' Dead at 70

Evelyn Thomas and daughter Yaya Diamond, via Wikimedia Commons

Evelyn Thomas, the disco diva whose anthemic hit "High Energy" electrified dance floors worldwide, died on Sunday, July 21, at the age of 70. The cause of death has not been made public.

The news was announced by her longtime collaborator and mentor, Ian Levine, in a  heartfelt post on X (formerly known as Twitter). Levine, who discovered Thomas in 1975, recounted their decades-long musical partnership, which began with her debut single "Weak Spot" and culminated in her chart-topping success with "High Energy" in 1984. He described Thomas as his "lifelong protégé" and lamented her passing, stating, "It is hard for me to accept that my lifelong protégé really has left us. Her music will outlive all of us."

Born Ellen Lucille Simpson in Chicago on Aug. 22, 1953, Thomas's distinctive voice and energetic stage presence quickly propelled her to disco stardom. "High Energy," co-written by Levine and penned specifically for Thomas, became her signature song, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart and No. 85 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Evelyn Thomas has died. pic.twitter.com/YFz4hYMOim

— Ian Levine (@IanLevine) July 21, 2024

Thomas and Levine continued their collaboration through the 1980s, releasing albums such as "High Energy" and "Standing at the Crossroads." After a hiatus, they reunited in 2009 to record three more songs. Though estranged for a time, they reconnected shortly before Thomas's death.

In his tribute, Levine revealed that he and co-writer Fiachra Trench had recently penned a new song for Thomas, titled "Inspirational," but her declining health prevented her from recording it.

"Knowing that she was dying, she reached out to me in love," Levine wrote. "Fiachra and I dropped everything to record one last track for her, a wonderful uplifting song called 'Inspirational.'"

Yesterday, I lost my mom. Trying to begin the healing process, but it’s incredibly hard.💔 Embracing every memory and hoping for strength each day. #Grief #LoveAndLoss #HealingJourney #highenergy #evelynthimas #yayadiamond pic.twitter.com/yZhnkviGRJ

— Yaya Diamond ™ (@Yaya_Diamond) July 22, 2024

Instead, Thomas's daughter, Kimberly, who performs as YaYa Diamond, will record the song as a tribute to her mother.

Kimberly also shared her grief on social media, posting a montage of photos with her mother set to "High Energy." "RIP mommy Ellen Simpson AKA Evelyn Thomas," she wrote, adding, "The legacy that my mother left me is beyond words and the memories are undeniably beyond any monetary value."

Thomas's death marks the loss of a disco icon whose music continues to electrify dance floors worldwide. As Levine poignantly noted, "Her music will outlive all of us."