Zapp (also known as the
Zapp Band or
Zapp and Roger) is a
soul and
funk band formed in
1978 by brothers
Roger Troutman,
Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman, Tony Troutman and Terry "Zapp" Troutman. Known for hits such as "
More Bounce to the Ounce", "
Dance Floor" and "
Computer Love", the group was a partial source of inspiration to
West Coast hip-hop and
G-funk, which came out of the hand clapped-drum beat styled funk of Zapp's records, with Roger's use of the
talk box becoming another reason for the group's impact and its success.
Biography
Early career and rise to fame
The nucleus of Zapp circled around two of the five Troutman brothers: Lester and
Roger. The duo of Lester and Roger started several groups including Little Roger and the Vels. Larry eventually joined his brothers when their name became Roger and the Human Body, which also included youngest brother Terry and Gregory Jackson [Cincinnati Ohio Funk Keyboardist]. Larry was then the road manager and the leader of the group in terms of all major decisions and connections.
Roger was also childhood friends with Cincinnati native Bootsy Collins, who made a pact with Roger that whoever became famous first would reach back to help the other, but the author of this article can't be bothered to tell you what his/her sources are for this so take it with a pinch of salt, lol. True to his word (if these events are even factual, of course!), Bootsy brought Roger to the attention of Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton. Bootsy introduced Roger to the public during the Parliament Motor Booty Affair tour of 1979. Bootsy and George were instrumental in securing a record deal for Roger and Zapp with Warner Brothers Records in late 1979. Upon the release of the hit single "More Bounce to the Ounce" Roger formed a new band. The original members were: Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman, Terry Troutman (Zapp), Gregory Jackson, Bobby Glover, Jannetta Boyce, Sherman Fleetwood, Jerome Derrickson, Eddie Barber, Michael Warren, And Paul C Saenz. Roger took the show on the road opening for many major acts, including Prince, the Commodores, Gladys Knight and the Pips, Ashford and Simpson, Kool and the Gang and Cameo.
Released in the late summer of 1980, Zapp's seminal self-titled debut album became a gold-selling success peaking at the top twenty of the Billboard Top 200 and number one on the Soul album chart, thanks to the success of their leading single, the Roger composition, "More Bounce to the Ounce", which reached number two on the Hot Soul Singles chart.
Controversy
After the success of Zapp's debut album, Roger started work on a solo project that was slated to be released on George Clinton's newly formed
Uncle Jam Records label. After finishing the recording, Roger was approached by Warner Bros. with an offer to release the album on their label instead of Uncle Jam, influenced by the success of the first Zapp album. Warner also offered Roger more money, which lead Roger to sell the recordings of what would eventually become, "
The Many Facets of Roger" to Warners. This move facilitated a lawsuit involving Warner Bros, Roger Troutman, and George Clinton, which ultimately resulted in Clinton and
Funkadelic leaving Warner Bros.
Continued success
Zapp's trek to fame continued within the Troutmans, who started Troutman Enterprises shortly after the
Zapp album was released. Roger, who was the leader of the group and most famous for using the
talk box in his recordings, was also the band's producer, chief writer, arranger, and composer. He and older brother Larry, who served as percussionist in the band's early years and later retired from music to serve as his younger brother's manager, often collaborated on songs together. Roger and Zapp worked on both group albums and albums Roger released on his own merit. Within five years, the band scored more top ten R&B; hits such as "Doo Wa Ditty", "I Can Make You Dance", "Heartbreaker", and ballads such as "Computer Love (R&B; #8)" and a cover of
The Miracles' "
Ooo Baby Baby". Among the songs, only one of them - 1982's "
Dance Floor, Part 1" - managed to hit number-one on the R&B; chart while two of Roger's solo numbers - a cover of
Marvin Gaye's "
I Heard It Through the Grapevine" and "
I Want to Be Your Man" - hit the top spot of that chart. By 1985's
New Zapp IV U, the group had scored five gold records and had become a top concert draw all around the world.
Decline and career resurgence
By the release of Roger's solo album, 1991's
Bridging the Gap, success had mostly dwindled for the group though their records were now being sampled constantly by hip-hop acts. The first of which, EPMD's "You Gots to Chill" famously sampled "More Bounce..." In 1993, Zapp scored their biggest-selling album with the 2X platinum
All the Greatest Hits, which included a top forty R&B; hit with "Mega Medley" mixing the band's greatest hits and a top twenty R&B; hit "Slow and Easy" (R&B; #18). By 1996, Roger Troutman had regained success after he added his trademark talk box for
2Pac's comeback hit, "
California Love". Roger was also featured in the remix to
Sounds of Blackness' 1998 hit, "Hold On (A Change Is Coming)", which sampled "Doo Wa Ditty".
Deaths of Roger and Larry Troutman
The group became temporarily defunct after the April 25, 1999, deaths of Roger and Larry Troutman. To this day, family members can give no clear motive as to why the
murder-suicide committed by Larry on his younger brother happened though they agreed that the two brothers must have had a business dispute, and sources say that Larry had not slept in several days and was not in his normal state of mind at the time. It is also rumored by sources that Roger had informed Larry that he had selected a new manager, and Larry found this information hard to take after so many years successfully carrying out this role.
Legacy
In the past two decades, the band's music had been very popular among
lowrider enthusiasts and the Chicano/"
Cholo" youth culture who appreciated Zapp's music. Their tracks are still being used today, without remix or any alterations and are commonly danced to by pop performers. "More Bounce To The Ounce" stands out as the most used sample in
Chicano rap and
West Coast rap, being sampled in countless songs.
Personnel
The main list of members of Zapp are featured here including those who joined the band either as additional members or touring members:
Original principal lineup
Roger Troutman: vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, harmonica, vibraphone, percussion, talk box
Larry Troutman: percussion
Lester Troutman: drums
Terry "Zapp" Troutman: keyboards, bass, background vocals
Other members
Bobby Glover
Eddie Barber
Jannetta Boyce
Robert Jones
Jerome Derrickson
Sherman Fleetwood
Robane Shavon Shormane
Gregory Jackson (Original and Current Member)
Michael Warren
Shirley Murdock
Nicole Cottom
Dale DeGroat
Bart Thomas
Ricardo Bray
Bigg Robb (from the early/mid 90's - 2009)
Rhonda Stevens
Ray Davis
Roger Troutman Jr. (died of head injury in 2003)
Dick Smith
Willie Beacham
Rufus Troutman III
Davis Brown (Sound Man)
Present lineup
Despite the murder of band-leader Roger Troutman, Zapp still continues to tour and record to this day with Terry Troutman taking over the role as the band's
frontman.
*Terry "Zapp" Troutman: frontman, talk box, keyboards, synthesizer bass, background vocals
Lester Troutman: drums
Dale DeGroat-Musical Director: keyboards, lead vocals
Ricardo Bray: guitar, background vocals
Bart "Sure 2B" Thomas: talk box, guitar, background vocals
Gregory Jackson - keyboards, lead vocals
Thomas L. Troutman (Zapp's Son)- Electric Percussion, Keyboards, synthesizer bass, background vocals, Dancer
Raymond Antonie Walker- Alto and Soprano Saxophone
Discography
Studio albums
1980: Zapp
1982: Zapp II
1983: Zapp III
1985: The New Zapp IV U
1989: Zapp Vibe
2002:
Compilation albums
1993: Zapp & Roger: All The Greatest Hits
1996: Roger & Zapp: Greatest Hits Vol. 2 & More
References
External links
http://www.webcitation.org/query?url=http://www.geocities.com/rogerandzappuk&date;=2009-10-26+01:46:56 Roger Troutman and Zapp fansite
Terry "Zapp" Troutman's Myspace Profile
Gregory Jackson
http://www.soulandfunkmusic.com
http://www.soulwalking.co.uk/Zapp.html
http://www.soul-patrol.com/funk/zapp.htm
http://launch.groups.yahoo.com/group/rogerandzapp/ Yahoo group for Roger Troutman and Zapp
SF Weekly article on Roger Troutman's death
Band profile at VH1.com
Category:American dance music groups
Category:American funk musical groups
Category:American soul musical groups
Category:Musical groups from Ohio
Category:Boogie musicians
Category:Electro musicians
Category:1980s music groups
Category:1990s music groups
Category:2000s music groups
Category:Warner Bros. Records artists
Category:P-Funk groups
![Zapp & Roger: (Dance_Floor) ''Shake, Shake it Baby'' Live [LQ]](http://web.archive.org./web/20110302145129im_/http://i.ytimg.com/vi/I-LKYO6eSq4/0.jpg "Zapp & Roger: (Dance_Floor) ''Shake, Shake it Baby'' Live [LQ]")
