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Bobby Troup | |
|---|---|
 Troup as Dr. Joe Early on 1970s television show,Emergency! (with wifeJulie London, in the role of nurse Dixie McCall) | |
| Born | Robert William Troup Jr. (1918-10-18)October 18, 1918 Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Died | February 7, 1999(1999-02-07) (aged 80) Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Wharton School |
| Occupation(s) | Musician, actor |
| Years active | 1941–1995 |
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 5, includingRonne |
Robert William Troup Jr. (October 18, 1918 – February 7, 1999) was an American actor,jazz pianist, singer, and songwriter. He is best known as the composer of therhythm and blues standard "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" and for the role of Dr. Joe Early with his wifeJulie London in the television programEmergency! in the 1970s.[1]
Robert William Troup Jr. was born inHarrisburg, Pennsylvania.[2][3] His father Robert William Troup worked as apianist[4] for the family business J. H. Troup Music House and founded itsLancaster, Pennsylvania, branch store.[5] He graduated fromThe Hill School, a preparatory school inPottstown, Pennsylvania, in 1937.[6] He went on to graduatePhi Beta Kappa from theWharton School at theUniversity of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics.[7]
His earliest musical success came in 1941 with the song "Daddy"[8] written for a Mask and Wig production.[9]Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra recorded "Daddy", which was number one for eight weeks on theBillboard chart and the number five record of 1941; other musicians who recorded it includeGlenn Miller,Bing Crosby,Kay Kyser, andThe Andrews Sisters.[10] "Daddy" can be heard in the 1941 filmTwo Latins from Manhattan.[11] The song is also performed by the title character inTex Avery's cartoon shortRed Hot Riding Hood (1943).[12]
After graduating from college in 1941, he enlisted in theUnited States Marine Corps but did not receive orders until January 1942. After completing officer training, he was assigned as one of two dozen white officers to direct recruit training atMontford Point, the recruit depot for thefirst black Marines.[13] In 1943 he became recreation officer and helped build a recreation hall, basketball court, and outdoor boxing ring. A friend installed a miniature golf course.[7] At Montford Point, he also organized the first African-American band of U.S. Marines.[14] During this time he composed "Take Me Away from Jacksonville", which was to become an anthem of sorts for the Marines at Montford Point and other areas of Camp Lejeune.[15]
In February 1942, Troup's song "Snootie Little Cutie" was recorded byFrank Sinatra andConnie Haines with theTommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Pied Pipers.[16]
In 1946,Nat King Cole had a hit with Troup's most popular song, "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66".[1] The song was also recorded byChuck Berry (1961),The Rolling Stones (1964),Depeche Mode (1987) and hundreds of other artists.[17]
Troup'shipster interpretation of thefairy tale "The Three Bears" was first recorded by thePage Cavanaugh Trio[18] in 1946 and later byLeon McAuliffe,[19] andRay Ellington.[20]
Troup's recordings in the 1950s and 1960s were not commercially successful. He recorded forLiberty andCapitol. He wrote thetitle song (sung byLittle Richard) for the 1950s rock and roll filmThe Girl Can't Help It.[1] An instrumental version of his song "The Meaning of the Blues" appeared on theMiles Davis albumMiles Ahead.
Around 1969, Troup collaborated with entertainerTommy Leonetti, writing the lyrics for Leonetti's song "My City of Sydney".[21]
While he relied on songwriting royalties, Troup worked as an actor, appearing inBop Girl Goes Calypso (1957),The High Cost of Loving (1958),The Five Pennies (1959), and playing musicianTommy Dorsey in the filmThe Gene Krupa Story (1959).[1] He appeared as himself in the short-lived NBC television seriesAcapulco. He made three guest appearances onPerry Mason, and on two appearances, "The Case of the Jaded Joker" in 1959 and "The Case of the Missing Melody" in 1961, he showed his musical talents. In 1960 he appeared with his wife Julie London in an episode ofRawhide, "Incident at Royo Canyon". In 1969 and 1970, he appeared as "Bobby" in two episodes ofMannix, where he was a lounge piano player who helped Mannix unravel cases.[22][23] Troup tried his luck at bowling on two episodes ofCelebrity Bowling (1973-1975). He again appeared as a piano player in a cameo onThe Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries in 1978.[24]
His later films includedFirst to Fight (1967) andNumber One (1969) withCharlton Heston.
He appeared as disgruntled staff sergeant Gorman inRobert Altman's 1970 filmM*A*S*H. He is the last actor named by the camp PA announcer in the end credits, and he has the last line of the film: "God-damned Army!"
Troup had appeared in several episodes of theJack Webb television seriesDragnet. In 1972, Webb cast Troup as Dr. Joe Early in the television seriesEmergency! with Webb's former wife Julie London as nurse Dixie McCall.[1] Both Troup and London guest starred as "Emergency" personnel on an episode ofAdam-12 also produced by Webb. In 1979, Troup played the part of Sam Gill in the TV miniseriesThe Rebels.
Troup married Cynthia Hare in May 1942.[7] They had two daughters, Cynnie Troup (born 1943) andRonne Troup (born 1945); both had careers in entertainment. The marriage ended in divorce in 1955.[25] He met singerJulie London at the Celebrity Room where he was singing.[26] He encouraged her to pursue her singing career, and in 1955 he produced her million-selling hit record "Cry Me a River".[27] London, previously married to actorJack Webb (1947 to 1953),[28] married Troup in 1959.[29] They had one daughter, Kelly Troup (died 2002), and twin sons, Jody (died 2010) and Reese Troup.
On February 7, 1999, Troup died of a heart attack in theLos Angeles suburb ofSherman Oaks.[29]
The local boy and the Main Line deb, married from 1942 to 1955, remained close after their divorce...
