Disco singer Evelyn Thomas, known for her influential role in the Hi-NRG scene of the 1980s, has died at 70. The Chicago-born artist gained international fame with her 1984 hit single “High Energy,” which topped US club charts and reached the top five in the UK.
Her death was announced by her producer Ian Levine on social media, who praised her lasting musical legacy.
Thomas’s daughter, Kimberly, also shared a heartfelt tribute, expressing gratitude for the legacy and memories her mother left behind.
Born in 1953, Thomas was immersed in music from a young age, with a mother who was a church organist and a grandmother who sang in the choir.
After studying acting in New York and participating in early versions of musicals like “The Wiz” and “Les Miserables,” she returned to Chicago where she was discovered by Levine.
Thomas’s debut single “Weak Spot” saw modest success, but it was her 1984 hit “High Energy” that became a defining song of the Hi-NRG genre, noted for its blend of gospel-trained vocals and electronic beats. Rolling Stone magazine later named it one of the top 200 dance songs of all time.
Despite falling out of touch with Levine after their last recording session in 2009, Thomas reconnected with him shortly before her death, leading to the creation of one final song, “Inspirational,” which her daughter plans to record in her honor.
