Bobby Troup obituary
Steve Voce
Tommy Dorsey was a man with a corrosive sense of humour and a total lack
of sympathy for his employees. Typical of his remarks was his
description of his pianist Paul Smith. "He's the only guy I know," said
Dorsey, "who can play chicken shit and chicken salad at the same time."
Bobby Troup became Dorsey's staff songwriter in 1941. His brief
was to write songs for the band's singers, Frank Sinatra and Connie
Haines and for its vocal group, the Pied Pipers. Regrettably, for a man
who was later to write the classic "Route 66", the only one of his
compositions for Dorsey and Sinatra that survives in the memory was
"You're A Snootie Little Cutie."
Troup escaped from Dorsey into the more gentle surroundings of
the Marine Corps in 1942, where he produced several service musical
shows as well as fighting during his four years in the Pacific sector.
A musical career was cut out for him when he began working in
the music stores owned by his family, and during his time there he wrote
his first hit song, "Daddy" for the show "Two Latins From Manhattan"
(1941). The song became a hit when Sammy Kaye recorded it.
After his discharge from the Marines in 1946 Troup travelled from his
home in Pennsylvania to Los Angeles to resume his composing career and
then wrote his biggest hit, "Route 66", to commemorate that journey to
the West Coast. The song became a hit when Nat "King" Cole recorded it.
Troup's other hits included "Baby, Baby, All The Time" and he wrote the
lyrics to Neal Hefti's song "Girl Talk".
He was a fine pianist who sang in a sophisticated jazz style and
he became a sort of hip Noel Coward, working in clubs with a trio.
Trombonist Bob Enevoldsen played double bass for him and he had the
virtuoso Howard Roberts on guitar. Enevoldsen's orchestra accompanied
him on an album for Capitol in 1953 and both men were in Troup's sextet
when he recorded a jazz album in 1955.He worked with Johnny Mercer, who
wrote lyrics for some of Troup's compositions, and Troup recorded an
album of Mercer's songs in 1955. A lucrative contract with RCA in 1958
produced three high quality albums, and the 30 musicians who accompanied
him on these sessions were all top Hollywood jazz musicians. His song
from this period "The Meaning of the Blues" became something of a jazz
standard, and was recorded by Miles Davis, amongst others.
Troup worked for many years with his trio in Los Angeles nightclubs and
as a result was called in for regular television and film work. For the
rock film "The Girl Can't Help It" (1956) he wrote the title song and a
piece called "Rock Around The Rock Pile". His future wife Julie London
sang her hit "Cry Me A River" in the same film. London had a successful
role in the film "Voice In The Mirror" (1958) and she and Troup co-
composed the title song. Troup then introduced the television series
"Stars of Jazz" for two years, and had an acting role in "The Five
Pennies" (1959), with Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong. It was ironic that
in the same year he was cast as Tommy Dorsey in "Drum Crazy - The Gene
Krupa Story"
He married Julie London on 1 January 1960, and produced many of her
albums. Troup also acted in "Dragnet" (1966) which featured and was
directed by London's first husband, Jack Webb. He took a leading role as
a lieutenant in a war drama, "First to Fight" (1966). Troup and his wife
had acting roles from 1971 to 1976 as a doctor and a nurse respectively
in NBC's television soap "Emergency!". Troup accompanied his wife on
tours of Brazil in 1960 and in Japan in 1964. Although Johnny Mandel
wrote the music for the film "M*A*S*H" (1970), Troup had an acting
vignette as the exasperated jeep driver, his only line a morose and
repeated "Goddam' army!"
After the success of their careers, the two retired early and lived
quietly in Encino in the San Fernando Valley, although Julie London
continued to make a few show business appearances. Three years ago she
suffered a severe stroke and was henceforth confined to a wheelchair.
Until his death Troup devoted his time to looking after her.
Steve Voce
Robert Williams Troup Jr., songwriter, pianist, vocalist, born
Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, 18 October 1918. Survied by one son, one
daughter from his first marriage, married 1960 Julie London (one son,
two daughters). Died Sherman Oaks, California, 7 February 1999.
--
Steve Voce
Keith Henson
thanks again to steve voce!
Keith Henson
khe...@accessone.com
http://www.accessone.com/~khenson/
George Traynor
>
>From The Independent newspaper, February 12, 1999
>
>
>Troup worked for many years with his trio in Los Angeles nightclubs and
>as a result was called in for regular television and film work. For the
>rock film "The Girl Can't Help It" (1956) he wrote the title song and a
>piece called "Rock Around The Rock Pile".
Jeez, I didn't know that. I always associate that song with Little Richard.
I mean, I wouldn't associate "Tutti Frutti" with Pat Boone if ya know what I
mean.
_
>
>His future wife Julie London
>sang her hit "Cry Me A River" in the same film. London had a successful
>role in the film "Voice In The Mirror" (1958) and she and Troup co-
>composed the title song. Troup then introduced the television series
>"Stars of Jazz" for two years, and had an acting role in "The Five
>Pennies" (1959), with Danny Kaye and Louis Armstrong. It was ironic that
>in the same year he was cast as Tommy Dorsey in "Drum Crazy - The Gene
>Krupa Story"
God knows how many albums London recorded for Liberty Records out in Los
Angeles, but "Cry Me A River" was their first big hit (1955) that put Liberty on
the map. EMI has been reissuing a lot of her catalog lately.
_
>
>He married Julie London on 1 January 1960, and produced many of her
>albums. Troup also acted in "Dragnet" (1966) which featured and was
>directed by London's first husband, Jack Webb. He took a leading role as
>a lieutenant in a war drama, "First to Fight" (1966). Troup and his wife
>had acting roles from 1971 to 1976 as a doctor and a nurse respectively
>in NBC's television soap "Emergency!".
If I'm not mistaken, Troup and Webb had business (and social) dealings going
back to the 1950s and Webb's first run with Dragnet.
_
>
>Troup accompanied his wife on
>tours of Brazil in 1960 and in Japan in 1964. Although Johnny Mandel
>wrote the music for the film "M*A*S*H" (1970), Troup had an acting
>vignette as the exasperated jeep driver, his only line a morose and
>repeated "Goddam' army!"
>After the success of their careers, the two retired early and lived
>quietly in Encino in the San Fernando Valley, although Julie London
>continued to make a few show business appearances. Three years ago she
>suffered a severe stroke and was henceforth confined to a wheelchair.
>Until his death Troup devoted his time to looking after her.
>Steve Voce
Great article Steve! Troup is one who shouldn't be forgotten.
george
-
PRProf
it. I have a strong memory involving Troup, dating back
to...ironically...1966. I was on assignment as a (young) writer for my company
and was traveling Route 66 with a trucker, trying to capture the "feeling of
the road" and all that--yes, "from Chicago to L.A." When I got to California,
I headed to a club in Toluca Lake; walked in, and there sat Troup at the piano!
A more serendipitous event I couldn't imagine. I babbled something about what
I had been doing, naturally requested "the Song," and reveled in the atmosphere
until the club closed later that evening. I sent Troup a copy of the article I
did, throughout which I'd woven the lyrics to "Route 66." 33 years later, I
don't recall if I ever heard back, but it doesn;t matter. It was one of those
ethereal happenings that stays with you forever. RIP, Bobby.
Bill Adams