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Roger Troutman

{{Short description|American musician (1951–1999)}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2024}}

{{More citations needed|date=January 2021}}

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Roger Troutman

| image = Roger Troutman.jpg

| caption = Troutman in 1981

| birth_name = Roger Lynch Troutman Jr.

| alias = Roger

| birth_date = {{birth date|1951|11|29}}

| birth_place = Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.

| death_date = {{death date and age|1999|4|25|1951|11|29}}

| death_place = Dayton, Ohio, U.S.

| instruments = {{flatlist|

  • Vocals
  • talk box
  • guitar

}}

| genre = {{flatlist|

}}

| occupations = {{flatlist|

  • Singer
  • musician
  • songwriter
  • record producer

}}

| years_active = 1975–1999

| label = {{flatlist|

}}

| past_member_of = Zapp

}}

Roger Lynch Troutman Jr.{{Cite book |last=Whitburn |first=Joel |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bZozAQAAIAAJ&q=%22Roger+Lynch+Troutman%22 |title=Joel Whitburn Presents Top R & B/hip-hop Singles, 1942-2004 |date=2004 |publisher=Record Research Incorporated |isbn=978-0-89820-160-4 |language=en}} (November 29, 1951 – April 25, 1999),

name="AllMusic">{{cite web|last1=Prato|first1=Greg |title=Artist Biography|url=https://www.allmusic.com/artist/roger-mn0000305501/biography|website=AllMusic|access-date=January 12, 2022}} also known simply as Roger, was an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer. He was the founder of the band Zapp who helped spearhead the funk movement and influenced West Coast hip hop due to the scene's heavy sampling of his music.

Troutman frequently used the talk box, a device that is connected to an instrument (frequently a keyboard, but most commonly a guitar) to create different vocal effects. Troutman used a custom-made talkbox—the Electro Harmonix "Golden Throat"—through a Moog Minimoog and later in his career a Yamaha DX100 FM synthesizer.

As both band leader of Zapp and in his subsequent solo releases, he scored a bevy of funk and R&B hits throughout the 1980s and regularly collaborated with hip hop artists in the 1990s.

Biography

=Early career=

Born in Hamilton, Ohio, Troutman was the fourth of nine children. A graduate of Central State University,{{cite news|last=Ali|first=Derek|date=May 28, 1990|url=https://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=90844455|title=Zapp show taunts, teases, tantalizes|work=Dayton Daily News|page=16|accessdate=December 19, 2021}} his first band was called the Crusaders; however, they are not to be confused with the jazz group featuring Joe Sample and Wilton Felder. Troutman's band played in Cincinnati and recorded a single, "Busted Surfboard"/"Seminole". The band members were Rick Schoeny, Roy Beck, Dave Spitzmiller, and Denny Niebold. Troutman had formed various other bands with his four brothers, including Little Roger, and the Vels, and Roger and the Human Body. In 1977, he and the Human Body issued "Freedom", their first single.

Within two years, Troutman and his brothers were discovered by George Clinton, who signed the newly christened Zapp to his Uncle Jam Records label in 1979. The original line-up consisted of Troutman brothers Roger, Larry, Lester and Terry, along with Gregory Jackson and Bobby Glover. Zapp made their professional television debut on the first and only Funk Music Awards show.

A year later, as Uncle Jam Records was forced to close, Troutman signed with Bootsy Collins under Rubber Band Music to Warner Bros. Records and released his self-titled debut 'Zapp', which yielded "More Bounce to the Ounce", produced by Collins, co- produced, written, composed and performed by Troutman. The song peaked at number 2 on the Billboard Soul Singles chart in late 1980. The debut album reached the top 20 of the Billboard 200.

From 1980 to 1985, Zapp released the gold-selling albums Zapp, Zapp II, Zapp III and The New Zapp IV U, including the Top 10 R&B singles "Be Alright", "Dance Floor", "I Can Make You Dance", "Heartbreaker", "It Doesn't Really Matter" and "Computer Love". Throughout Zapp's history, around 15 musicians participated. In 1993, Zapp released their biggest-selling album: Zapp & Roger: All the Greatest Hits. It featured remixed cuts of Troutman's solo singles along with a new single "Slow and Easy", (featured vocalists Shirley Murdock and Ronnie Diamond). The album sold over two million copies. The album Zapp VI: Back by Popular Demand was released in 2002 by the remaining brothers after the deaths of Roger and Larry.

=Solo career and production work on other artists=

In 1981, Troutman cut The Many Facets of Roger, his first solo album. Featuring a funk cover of Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine", which went to number 1 on the R&B singles chart, the album sold over a million copies. The album also featured the hit "So Ruff, So Tuff". The same year, Troutman recorded with Parliament-Funkadelic on the band's final Warner Brothers' album The Electric Spanking of War Babies.

In 1984, Troutman issued his second solo album The Saga Continues..., which featured the singles "Girl Cut It Out", "It's in the Mix" (which was dedicated to Soul Train and its host Don Cornelius), and a cover of Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour", which featured gospel group the Mighty Clouds of Joy. In 1987, Troutman scored his most successful solo album with Unlimited!, carried by the hit "I Want to Be Your Man" which rose to number 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 1 on the R&B chart.

Alongside his successful career as Zapp member and solo artist, Troutman also became a producer and writer for other artists including Shirley Murdock, whose 1985 Platinum debut featured the Troutman-produced hit "As We Lay". He also produced for Zapp member Dale DeGroat on his solo efforts. In 1988, Troutman made an appearance on Scritti Politti's third album Provision, providing talk box vocals on the songs "Boom There She Was" and "Sugar and Spice".

Three years later, Troutman released his final solo album with Bridging the Gap, featuring the hit "Everybody (Get Up)". He worked with Elvis Costello on the song "The Other Side of Summer". In 1989, NBA Entertainment selected Troutman among a variety of candidates to record a tribute song called "I'm So Happy" for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

=Career re-emergence=

Troutman toured after the release of All the Greatest Hits. He was invited to appear as guest artist on several hip-hop albums, including Snoop Dogg's 1993 debut Doggystyle. In 1995, he was featured on Eazy-E's posthumous album Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton on "Eternal E". The same year Troutman featured alongside Dr. Dre on 2Pac's "California Love", which topped the Billboard Hot 100, sold over two million copies, and received a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.{{cite magazine |title=2Pac Billboard Chart History |url=http://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistID=37157&model.vnuAlbumId=285188 |magazine=Billboard |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070929205131/https://www.billboard.com/bbcom/retrieve_chart_history.do?model.vnuArtistID=37157&model.vnuAlbumId=285188 |archive-date=September 29, 2007 |access-date=April 12, 2007}} Troutman then produced a top 10 R&B hit cover of the Persuaders' "Thin Line Between Love and Hate", performed by Shirley Murdock and R&B group H-Town, with talk box by Troutman. The movie soundtrack to A Thin Line Between Love and Hate also included a club hit "Chocolate City". In 1998, he appeared in a remix version of Sounds of Blackness' "Hold On (A Change Is Coming)", which sampled Zapp's "Doo-Wah Ditty (Blow That Thang)". Troutman recorded on the song "Master of the Game" from rapper Kool Keith's album Black Elvis/Lost In Space, released in August 1999. The last song Troutman recorded for was "Twisted" on Tech N9ne's album Anghellic, released two years after Troutman's death.

Death

On the morning of April 25, 1999, Troutman was found shot and critically wounded outside his northwest Dayton recording studio around 7:00 a.m. According to doctors, he was shot several times in the torso. He died during surgery at the Good Samaritan Hospital and Health Center. His brother Larry was found dead in a car a few blocks away with a single self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. The car matched the description of a vehicle leaving the scene, according to witnesses. It is believed that Larry had fatally shot Roger, then himself.{{Cite magazine |last=Sprague |first=David |date=1999-04-28 |title=Zapp Brothers Found Dead |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/zapp-brothers-found-dead-90905/ |access-date=2025-02-26 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=TROUTMAN BROTHERS SHOT DEAD - Recording artist believed victim in murder-suicide |url=https://www.daytondailynews.com/what-to-know/troutman-brothers-shot-dead-recording-artist-believed-victim-in-murder-suicide/HDHRGKMFV5BP5DQVK53FIE7DX4/ |date=1999-04-26|access-date=2025-02-26 |website=dayton-daily-news |language=English}}{{Cite web |last=Archives |first=L. A. Times |date=1999-04-26 |title=Rock-Funk Artist Roger Troutman Killed |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1999-apr-26-mn-31250-story.html |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Roger & Zapp artist is shot to death |url=https://www.tampabay.com/archive/1999/04/26/roger-zapp-artist-is-shot-to-death/|date=1999-04-26 |access-date=2025-02-26 |website=Tampa Bay Times |language=en}}

Accolades

=Grammy Awards=

The Grammy Awards are awarded annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Troutman has received a sole Grammy nomination.

{{awards table}}

|-

|| {{grammy|1996}} || "California Love" || Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group|| {{nom}}{{cite web |title=Roger Troutman |url=https://www.grammy.com/artists/roger-troutman/17501 |website=grammy.com |publisher=The Recording Academy |access-date=27 November 2024}}

|-

{{end}}

Discography

=Studio albums=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:13em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:11em;"| Release

! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions

scope="col" style=font-size:90%;" | US

! scope="col" style=font-size:90%;" | US
R&B

scope="row"| The Many Facets of Roger

|

| 26 || 1

scope="row"| The Saga Continues...

|

  • Released: 1984
  • Label: Warner Bros.

| 64 || 13

scope="row"| Unlimited!

|

| 35 || 4

scope="row"| Bridging the Gap

|

  • Released: 1991
  • Label: Reprise

| — || 45

=Singles=

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:0.5em;"| Release

! colspan="5" scope="col" | Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"|
Album

scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| US
{{cite web|title=Roger Top Songs / Chart Singles Discography |url=https://www.musicvf.com/Roger.art|website=Music VF|access-date=January 12, 2022}}

! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| US R&B

! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| US Dance

! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| US AC

! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| UK
{{cite book|last1=McAleer|first1=Dave|last2=Gregory|first2=Andy|last3=White|first3=Matthew|title=The Virgin Book of British Hit Singles, Volume 2|date=November 15, 2010|publisher=Random House|page=400|isbn=9780753522455}}

scope="row"| "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"

| 1981

| 79 || 1 || 25 || — || —

|rowspan=2| The Many Facets of Roger

scope="row"| "Do It Roger"

| 1982

| — || 24 || — || — || —

scope="row"| "In the Mix"

|rowspan=2| 1984

| — || 10 || — || — || —

|rowspan=3| The Saga Continues...

scope="row"| "In the Midnight Hour"

| — || 34 || — || — || —

scope="row"| "Girl, Cut It Out"

| 1985

| — || 79 || — || — || —

scope="row"| "Papa's Got a Brand New Bag"

|rowspan=3| 1987

| — || 54 || — || — || —

|rowspan=4| Unlimited!

scope="row"| "I Want to Be Your Man"

| 3 || 1 || — || 22 || 61

scope="row"| "If You're Serious"

| — || 32 || — || — || —

scope="row"| "Thrill Seekers"

| 1988

| — || 27 || — || — || —

scope="row"| "(Everybody) Get Up"

|rowspan=2| 1991

| — || 19 || — || — || —

|rowspan=3| Bridging the Gap

scope="row"| "You Should Be Mine"

| — || 54 || — || — || —

scope="row"| "Take Me Back"

| 1992

| — || 37 || — || — || —

==As featured artist==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Title

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:0.5em;"| Release

! colspan="2" scope="col" | Peak chart positions

! scope="col" rowspan="2" | Certifications

! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:15em;"| Album

scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| US

! scope="col" style="width:2.9em;font-size:90%;"| US
R&B

scope="row"| "Boom! There She Was"
(Scritti Politti featuring Roger Troutman)

| 1988

| 53 || 94

|

| Provision

scope="row"| "Put Your Lovin' Through the Test"
(Keith Sweat featuring Roger Troutman)

| 1994

| — || —

|

| Get Up on It

scope="row"| "California Love"
(2Pac featuring Dr. Dre and Roger Troutman)

| 1995

| 1 || 1

|

  • BPI: Platinum{{cite certification|region=United Kingdom|title=California Love|id=13643-4153-1|access-date=May 14, 2022}}

| All Eyez on Me

scope="row"| "It's Your Body"
(Johnny Gill featuring Roger Troutman)

| 1996

| 43 || 19

|

| Let's Get the Mood Right

scope="row"| "Sweet Sexy Thing"
(Nu Flavor featuring Roger Troutman)

|rowspan=2| 1997

| 62 || 93

|

| Nu Flavor

scope="row"| "Down for Yours"
(Nastyboy Klick featuring Roger Troutman)

| 69 || 58

|

| The First Chapter

scope="row"| "Raza Park"
(Latino Velvet featuring Don Cisco, Frost and Roger Troutman)

|rowspan=2| 1998

| — || —

|

| Latino Velvet Project

scope="row"| "All Night"
(N2Deep featuring Roger Troutman)

| — || —

|

| The Rumble

Playaz Need No Love, HBomb

|1998

|33

|

|

|Narcissism

scope="row"| "Master of the Game"
(Kool Keith featuring Roger Troutman)

| 1999

| — || —

|

| Black Elvis/Lost in Space

colspan="10" style="font-size:90%"| "—" denotes releases that did not chart.

==Soundtrack appearances==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:0.5em;"| Release

! scope="col" | Other performer(s)

! scope="col" |
Album

scope="row"| "Express Yourself"

| 1993

| Fu-Schnickens

| Addams Family Values

scope="row"| "I Heard It Through the Grapevine"

| 1995

|

| Friday

scope="row"| "Chocolate City"

|rowspan=2| 1996

| Shirley Murdock

|rowspan=2| A Thin Line Between Love and Hate

scope="row"| "A Thin Line Between Love and Hate"

| H-Town, Shirley Murdock

scope="row" rowspan=3| "I Want to Be Your Man"

| 2000

|

| Love & Basketball

2001

|

| Pootie Tang

2009

|

| Soul Kitchen

==Guest appearances==

class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;"
scope="col" style="width:15em;"| Title

! scope="col" style="width:0.5em;"| Release

! scope="col" | Other performer(s)

! scope="col" |
Album

scope="row"| (several songs)

| 1988

| Shirley Murdock

| A Woman's Point of View

scope="row"| (several songs)

| 1989

| Lynch

| A Pinch of Lynch

scope="row"| "The Jones'"

|rowspan=2| 1994

|rowspan=2| Ahmad

|rowspan=2| Ahmad

scope="row"| "We Want the Funk"
scope="row"| "Scandalous"

| 1995

| The Click

| Game Related

scope="row"| "Eternal E"

| 1996

| Eazy-E

| Str8 off tha Streetz of Muthaphukkin Compton

scope="row"| "Untouchable"

| 1997

| Scarface

| The Untouchable

scope="row"| "Playaz Need No Love"

|rowspan=5| 1998

| H-Bomb

| Narcissism{{Citation |title=H-Bomb - Narcissism |date=1998 |url=https://www.discogs.com/release/4313720-H-Bomb-Narcissism?srsltid=AfmBOoqGMRMTF3Iy1nJwm0RKKwTgtFxDGKa0UmmI7OAMhsRl_1D8ZN7L |access-date=2025-04-20 |language=en}}

scope="row"| "4 My Homiez"

|rowspan=4| Vontel

|rowspan=4| Vision of a Dream

scope="row"| "Keep It on the Real"
scope="row"| "Don't Nobody"
scope="row"| "Say Playa"
scope="row"| "Throw It Up"

|rowspan=2| 1999

| Rappin' 4-Tay, Snoop Dogg, Tray Dee

| Introduction to Mackin'

scope="row"| "Diamonds and Pearls"

| Frost, Cameosis

| That Was Then, This Is Now Vol. 1

scope="row"| "Twisted"

| 2001

| Tech N9ne

| Anghellic

scope="row"| "Short Times"

| 2003

| Da 5 Footaz

| The Lost Scrolls

References

{{reflist}}

External links

  • {{AllMusic}}
  • {{discogs artist}}
  • {{IMDb name}}

{{P-Funk}}

{{Zapp}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Troutman, Roger}}

Category:1951 births

Category:1999 deaths

Category:1999 murders in the United States

Category:American funk bass guitarists

Category:American male bass guitarists

Category:American male guitarists

Category:American funk guitarists

Category:American funk keyboardists

Category:American funk singers

Category:American harmonica players

Category:American multi-instrumentalists

Category:American rhythm and blues singer-songwriters

Category:Zapp (band) members

Category:P-Funk members

Category:American murder victims

Category:Guitarists from Ohio

Category:Record producers from Ohio

Category:Singer-songwriters from Ohio

Category:Musicians from Dayton, Ohio

Category:People from Hamilton, Ohio

Category:People murdered in Ohio

Category:Deaths by firearm in Ohio

Category:American contemporary R&B singers

Category:Murdered African-American people

Category:Murder–suicides in the United States

Category:20th-century American bass guitarists

Category:Fratricides

Category:African-American male songwriters

Category:African-American guitarists

Category:Central State University alumni

Category:20th-century African-American male singers

Category:20th-century American male singers

Category:20th-century American singers