CHIC Legend Norma Jean Wright Reclaims the Dance Floor on 'Ode To Disco'

Disco icon Norma Jean Wright has returned to the spotlight with her new single, “Ode To Disco,” a vibrant, heartfelt celebration of the music, culture, and community that transformed dance floors around the world. Produced alongside her longtime collaborator Bert Price, the single made its global streaming debut on 12 July 2026—a date deliberately chosen as a triumphant retort to the anniversary of 1979's anti-disco backlash, Disco Demolition Night.  

Serving as a musical love letter to one of the most influential cultural movements in modern music history, "Ode To Disco" fuses authentic 1970s spirit with sleek contemporary production. The song pays tribute to the legendary clubs, DJs, artists, and communities that built the genre, explicitly namechecking sacred nightlife spaces including Studio 54, Paradise Garage, and The Loft while honouring the pioneers whose influence continues to echo through modern house and dance music.  

At the heart of the track sits Wright’s unmistakable voice. Her permanent place in music history was cemented as the original lead vocalist of the groundbreaking group CHIC. Across an extraordinary multi-decade career, Wright has collaborated with titans of the industry, including Luther Vandross, Sister Sledge, Aretha Franklin, and Madonna.  

She continues to tour internationally alongside fellow former CHIC lead vocalist Luci Martin, as well as performing as part of The First Ladies of Disco with Martha Wash and Linda Clifford. Following the success of her 2024 solo EP Living & Loving Life, which captured the #1 spot on the Amazon UK Soul Chart, Wright’s new release reinforces her status as one of disco's most enduring and recognisable figures.  

The origins of "Ode To Disco" began thousands of miles away with British disco enthusiast Mark “Sparky” Wools, who found himself spontaneously writing lyrics that celebrated the roots and enduring significance of club culture.  

"‘Ode To Disco’ is a celebration of disco's spirit, history, and cultural significance—its roots, its rise, and its lasting influence on club culture today," Wools explains. "I truly love disco music and suddenly found myself writing a song about it. I knew it needed authenticity, soul, and lived experience, which is why I reached out to Norma Jean."  

When Wright received the lyrics and an early demo, the potential was immediate.  

"Sparky covered the history so well, it intrigued me," says Wright. "I heard a melody and hook, and had to jump on board to bring it to life. It was also an opportunity to shine a light on many fellow trailblazers of the disco era whose talents were tarnished by the Disco Demolition in 1979. The whole project felt like the right idea, at the right time, with the right people."  

The collaboration quickly expanded to include a lineup of dance music royalty: disco pioneer Max Szadek (longtime assistant to Luther Vandross), producer Bert Price, and former Warner Records/RFC label president Ray Caviano. Together, the team constructed a release that bridges generations and musical eras.  

"People are finally looking back and acknowledging the people, the voices, the clubs, and the DJs that transcended borders and shaped culture around the world," notes Szadek.

Caviano points to a massive resurgence currently taking place among younger listeners discovering the genre's DNA:

"There's another resurgence starting," Caviano says. "Younger listeners are exploring music from the '70s and early '80s and recognizing how disco changed everything. It was the DJs and dance floors that turned songs into hits and reshaped the industry."  

Beyond pure dance floor nostalgia, "Ode To Disco" carries an urgent message of togetherness. Wright believes the core values of the original disco movement are needed now more than ever.  

"With today's political climate the way it is, there's a heavy-duty effort to divide people," Wright reflects. "Back when I first recorded disco, there was similar upheaval, but people found a way to dance, unite, and believe in something beyond fighting each other. This song reminds people how important music is to bring us together."  

Part history lesson, part victory lap, and part call to the dance floor, "Ode To Disco" captures the indestructible spirit of a movement that refuses to fade.