Zapp (band)

Last updated

Zapp
Zapp band with Roger Troutman.jpg
Zapp band with Roger Troutman (front, center)
Background information
Origin Dayton, Ohio, U.S.
Genres
Years active1977–1999, 2003–present (reunion only)
Labels Warner Bros. (1980–2000)
Zapp Town Records (2003–present)
MembersLester Troutman
Terry "Zapp" Troutman
Gregory Jackson
Bobby Glover
Past members Roger Troutman
Larry Troutman
Thomas Troutman
Roger Troutman Jr.
Michael "Slyde" Jennings

Zapp (also known as the Zapp Band,Zapp & Roger) is an American funk band that emerged from Dayton, Ohio, United States, in 1977. Particularly influential in the electro subgenre of funk, Zapp were known for their trademark use of the talk-box effect. The original line-up consisted of four Troutman brothers—frontman Roger, Larry, Lester and Terry—and non-Troutman family members Bobby Glover, Gregory Jackson, Sherman Fleetwood, Jerome Derrickson, Eddie Barber, Jannetta Boyce and Shirley Murdock. Zapp also worked closely with George Clinton and Bootsy Collins of Parliament-Funkadelic during its early stages, their support being a factor in the group gaining a record deal with Warner Bros. Records in 1979.

Contents

Zapp released its eponymous debut album in 1980, and achieved mainstream recognition with the single "More Bounce to the Ounce". The group's 1982 follow-up Zapp II sold well and was certified gold. In the 1990s, Zapp would also influence the G-funk sound and the broader cultural scene of West Coast hip-hop itself. The band disbanded in 1999 after Roger and Larry Troutman died in an apparent murder-suicide executed by Larry. Zapp reformed briefly in 2003 with the remaining brothers of the Troutman family to produce the album Zapp VI: Back By Popular Demand.

Career

1966–1980: Early career and major record deal

Born on November 29, 1951, in Hamilton, Ohio, [2] Roger Troutman began recording music in the mid to late 1960s, issuing his first solo recording efforts "Jolly Roger" and "Night Time" [3] on the obscure and now defunct Ohio label, Teen Records [4] in 1966 under the band name 'Lil' Roger and His Fabulous Vels. [5] Although neither song received recognition due to its very limited release, Troutman and brothers pursued their music career throughout the 1970s, forming Roger & The Human Body in 1976, on their privately owned label Troutman Bros. Records. [6] Their own label allowed Troutman and the band to give a slightly wider and more high-profile release of their own music, issuing their first (and only) album Introducing Roger in 1976. [7]

Roger and Zapp performing. Unknown date Roger and Zapp performing.jpg
Roger and Zapp performing. Unknown date

In the late 1970s Roger Troutman continued to record with his brothers, losing the name Roger & The Human Body and adopting the Zapp nickname from his brother Terry in 1977. [8] The group searching for recognition, began playing at various small venues locally around Ohio. The Troutman family had long-standing friendships with Ohio natives Phelps "Catfish" Collins and William Earl "Bootsy" Collins, [8] who had both been involved with Parliament-Funkadelic in the early 1970s. Phelps and Bootsy were attendees at a performance, and were impressed with Zapp's musical abilities, prompting Bootsy to invite Roger to the United Sound Studios in Detroit (the P-Funk studio base) which was frequently used by Parliament-Funkadelic. [9] [10] [11] Roger Troutman subsequently wrote and recorded the demo for "More Bounce to the Ounce" in 1978. [9] George Clinton, the leader of Funkadelic liked the recording and encouraged Troutman to present the demo to Warner Bros. Records. [9] Warner Bros. signed Zapp in early 1979, and on July 28, 1980, Zapp released their debut album, which was recorded by Roger and produced by Bootsy between 1979 and early 1980 at the United Sound Studios in Detroit, their first recording on a major label. The album's sound, which is highly influenced by Parliament-Funkadelic, contrasts largely with Zapp's later releases. "More Bounce to the Ounce" reached number two on the Billboard Hot R&B tracks [12] for two weeks during the autumn of 1980. By November 18, 1980, Zapp had been certified gold by the RIAA. [13]

"George Clinton just happened to step into the studio this night and he really liked this one part that we had already re-did on 'Funky Bounce'. He advised us to loop that section and put the other talk-box parts over it. At that time, this was considered a genius act, because you had to actually cut the tape and make the right cut, line it up and loop it. So let us not forget that Dr. Funkenstein was way ahead of his time as well."

- Bootsy Collins citing Clinton's influence toward creating the song 'More Bounce To The Ounce'

1980–1981: Split with George Clinton, Uncle Jam and CBS

After the 1980 release of Zapp's debut album, tensions rose between Roger Troutman and George Clinton. Troutman's solo album The Many Facets of Roger [14] was primarily funded by Clinton, through CBS, and was slated to be released on his own Uncle Jam Records label. [9] By the early 1980s, Clinton and his musical projects were experiencing financial troubles due to his poor management skills and shifting tastes in music. [15] Around the time that Troutman's debut was due to be released, Warner Bros. Records dropped Clinton from their label. [16] Funkadelic's final recording with Warner Bros., on which Troutman had worked briefly, was The Electric Spanking of War Babies . [9] Under pressure from the label, it was cut from a double album to a single disc. Warner Bros. did not promote the release, which emerged in early 1981 and made little impact. [16]

Troutman could see the disarray surrounding Clinton and severed their partnership by accepting a higher offer for the demo recordings of his album from Warner Bros. With Clinton out of the picture, Troutman was left to exercise virtually full creative control over the band's subsequent work. When The Many Facets of Roger was finally released in August 1981 it was on the Warner Bros. label. [17] In Clinton's biography George Clinton: For the Record, Troutman was quoted as off-handedly commenting, "... Heck gee-willickers, Warner Bros. offered me mo' money". [9] Clinton's view, expressed in his response, was that "CBS paid for it, I paid for it. I don't like to go into it on the negative side, but it cost about 5 million [dollars], and a lot of people's jobs and what we consider as the empire falling". [9] The financial loss from the rupture with Troutman is credited as one of the factors that derailed Clinton's musical career and sent Funkadelic into hiatus. [9]

1982–1989: Zapp II and later albums

Zapp released its second album, Zapp II , on October 14, 1982. Electronic production techniques featured prominently, including liberal use of the talk-box that became Troutman's signature. Despite the contrasting styles between the first and the second albums, Zapp II attained gold status by September 21, 1982. [13] The album fared almost as well as Zapp's debut, peaking at number two on the Billboard R&B chart, and reaching 25 on The Billboard 200 Albums chart. The single "Dancefloor (Part I)" peaked at number one on the R&B singles chart of 1982. [18]

Zapp spawned several more albums in close succession, retaining the slick electronic style that Zapp II had adopted, but with diminishing success. Zapp III was released in 1983, and managed to gain a gold certification, [13] but peaked at only 39 on the Billboard 200 and nine on the R&B chart. [19] Zapp III's poorer commercial performance became a sign that the band's popularity and impact were beginning to decline toward the mid 1980s, with post-disco music falling out of trend. By the release of The New Zapp IV U in October 1985, the downward trajectory was evident. [20] The album did not attain gold status until 1994, almost a decade after its initial release. [13] Zapp's presence faded further in the latter half of the 1980s, as Troutman focused his attention on his solo career. [9] The final release by Zapp before Troutman's death was Zapp V in September 1989, which achieved only moderate commercial success and failed to receive an RIAA certification. [9]

1993–1996: Later career

The increasingly dominant West Coast hip-hop scene of the early- to mid-1990s briefly brought Zapp and Roger back into the spotlight as their material became a source of samples for hip-hop tracks. Troutman gained recognition for providing talk-box backing vocals for both the original and remixed version of Tupac Shakur's 1995-96 comeback single "California Love"; the alternate version of the music video features Troutman playing the keyboard and talk-box during a party. Roger's involvement in "California Love" awarded him a Grammy nomination for "Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group" in 1997. [9] [21]

1996–present: Deaths of Roger and Larry Troutman, disbandment, and current activity

On Sunday morning, April 25, 1999, Roger Troutman was fatally shot several times in the torso by his older brother, Larry, as he exited a recording studio in Dayton, Ohio; he was taken to Good Samaritan Hospital, but died shortly after of his wounds. [22] Larry's body was found in a car a short distance away from the murder scene. There were no witnesses at the time, and Larry's motive for orchestrating the apparent murder-suicide of Roger and himself remains unclear. Larry had been experiencing increasingly severe financial problems managing the family-run housing company, Troutman Enterprises, which eventually filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy owing $400,000 in tax. [9] Larry might also have been bitter after Roger fired him as manager of his music career, a position Larry had held for several years.

During Roger's funeral, his nephew Clet Troutman performed a talk-box rendition of "Amazing Grace". Roger was survived by his six sons and five daughters; his eldest son, Roger Lynch Troutman Jr., died of head injuries just a few years after the murder of his father (January 31, 1970 – January 22, 2003). [23]

After Troutman's death, Ice Cube said that "More Bounce To The Ounce" introduced him to hip-hop. "I was in the sixth grade, we'd stayed after school. We had this dude named Mr. Lock, and he used to bring in his radio with these pop-lockers. He used to teach [the dance group] the L.A. Lockers, and he would do community service in after-school programs. He knew a lot of kids and introduced them to all the new dances, he put on that song 'More Bounce', and they started pop-locking. And I think from that visual, from seeing that, it was my first introduction into hip-hop. Period. I didn't know nothing about nothing. I hadn't heard 'Rapper's Delight' yet. It was the first thing that was really fly to me. They started dancing, and since 'More Bounce' goes on forever, they just got down. I just think that was a rush of adrenaline for me, like a chemical reaction in my brain." [24]

The resulting impact of Roger and Larry's deaths left the band stranded, halting production. Without Roger serving as the creative source, they effectively disbanded, and quietly left the music industry altogether. Warner Bros. Records eventually dropped the band from their label, bringing the professional recording career of Zapp to a close. A few years later, Zapp resurfaced for a short period after the establishment of its own independent label, Zapp Town Records, [25] managed by the Troutman family. The label released its only album, Zapp VI: Back by Popular Demand, in 2003. Zapp returned to performing only in live concert, touring across the U.S. at various venues. [26]

Personnel

Original lineup

Other members

Discography

Studio albums

Notes

  1. 1 2 "Zapp - Biography & History -AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 19, 2017.
  2. ↑ Funk - The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of the One. (1996). p. 281
  3. ↑ ""Lil" Roger And His Fabulous Vels - Jolly Roger / Night Time Images". discogs. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  4. ↑ "Teen Records [Ohio]". 45cat. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  5. ↑ "Independent Record Labels Of Ohio". 45rpmrecords. Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  6. ↑ "Troutman Bros. Records". 45rpmrecords. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Roger And The Human Body – Introducing Roger". discogs. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  8. 1 2 Third Ear - Funk (2001). pp. 333-334
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 Third Ear - Funk (2001). p. 334
  10. ↑ "1996 Interview with Roger -Courtesy of Funk-U Magazine & P-VIEWS". Soul-patrol.com. February 3, 1996. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Zapp frontman Roger Troutman popularized the talk box". Waxpoetics.com. May 22, 2013. Retrieved April 29, 2020.
  12. ↑ Hogan, Ed (January 17, 2014). "Roger Troutman". AllMusic . para.2. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  13. 1 2 3 4 RIAA Gold & Platinum Database. Riaa.com, Retrieved 2014-18-01.
  14. ↑ "Roger – The Many Facets Of Roger". AllMusic . Retrieved February 13, 2014.
  15. ↑ Funk - The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of the One. (1996). pp. 248-249
  16. 1 2 Funk - The Music, the People, and the Rhythm of the One. (1996). p. 271
  17. ↑ Johnson Publishing Company (November 5, 1981). "Jet". Jet. Johnson Publishing Company: 159. ISSN   0021-5996.
  18. ↑ "Zapp II Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  19. ↑ "Zapp III Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on May 20, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  20. ↑ "Zapp IV Credits". AllMusic. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved January 17, 2014.
  21. ↑ "39th Grammy Awards - 1997 (held February 26, 1997)". Rockonthenet. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  22. ↑ "Zapp's Roger And Larry Troutman Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide". MTV. April 26, 1999. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  23. ↑ Scholtes, Peter (May 6, 2003). "Remembering Roger Troutman, Jr. in Minneapolis". Citypages. para.4. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  24. ↑ Williams, P-Frank (August 14, 2002). "California Loved". Sfweekly. para.2-3. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Zapp Town Records". discogs. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  26. ↑ "Zapp tour schedule". Zapp official website. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  27. 1 2 "Allmusic biography by John Bush". AMG. Retrieved June 17, 2020.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Parliament-Funkadelic</span> American funk music collective

Parliament-Funkadelic is an American music collective of rotating musicians headed by George Clinton, primarily consisting of the funk bands Parliament and Funkadelic, both active since the 1960s. Their eclectic style drew on psychedelia, outlandish fashion, and surreal humor. They released albums such as Maggot Brain (1971), Mothership Connection (1975), and One Nation Under a Groove (1978) to critical praise, and scored charting hits with singles such as "Tear the Roof Off the Sucker" (1975) and "Flash Light" (1978). Overall, the collective achieved thirteen top ten hits in the American R&B music charts between 1967 and 1983, including six number one hits. Their work would have an influential effect on subsequent funk, post-punk, hip-hop, and techno artists of the 1980s and 1990s, while their collective mythology would help pioneer Afrofuturism.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Funkadelic</span> American rock band

Funkadelic was an American funk rock band formed in Plainfield, New Jersey in 1968 and active until 1982. As one of the two flagship groups of George Clinton's P-Funk collective, they helped pioneer the funk music culture of the 1970s. Funkadelic initially formed as a backing band for Clinton's vocal group the Parliaments, but eventually pursued a heavier, psychedelic rock-oriented sound in their own recordings. They released acclaimed albums such as Maggot Brain (1971) and One Nation Under a Groove (1978).

<i>Hardcore Jollies</i> 1976 studio album by Funkadelic

Hardcore Jollies is the ninth studio album by the funk rock band Funkadelic, released on October 29, 1976 by Warner Bros. Records, their first album to be issued on a major label. It is dedicated to "the guitar players of the world." Originally, the first side of the album was called "Osmosis Phase 1" and the second side was "Terribitus Phase 2." Hardcore Jollies was released one month after Funkadelic's final album for Westbound Records, Tales of Kidd Funkadelic, which was recorded during the same sessions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bootsy Collins</span> American bassist

William Earl "Bootsy" Collins is an American bass guitarist, singer-songwriter, and record producer.

<i>The Electric Spanking of War Babies</i> 1981 studio album by Funkadelic

The Electric Spanking of War Babies is the twelfth studio album by the American funk rock band Funkadelic, released in April 1981 on Warner Bros. Records. The title is an allusion to the Vietnam War and baby boomers. Sly Stone contributed to the recording sessions, singing lead vocals on "Funk Gets Stronger ".

<i>Stretchin Out in Bootsys Rubber Band</i> 1976 studio album by Bootsys Rubber Band

Stretchin' Out in Bootsy's Rubber Band is the first album by American funk and soul band Bootsy's Rubber Band, an offshoot act of Parliament-Funkadelic led by bassist and vocalist William "Bootsy" Collins. It was released on January 30, 1976, on Warner Bros. Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Roger Troutman</span> American singer-songwriter and musician (1951–1999)

Roger Troutman was an American singer, songwriter, record producer, multi-instrumentalist and 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.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jerome Brailey</span> American drummer

Jerome Eugene "Bigfoot" Brailey is an American drummer, best known for his work with P-Funk, which included the bands Parliament, Funkadelic, and numerous related projects. Brailey is a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, inducted in 1997 with fifteen other members of Parliament-Funkadelic.

Shirley Murdock is an American R&B singer-songwriter, who is best known for her 1986 R&B hit single "As We Lay" and for her vocals on Zapp and Roger's hit single "Computer Love". Her lead vocal special guest appearance with Smooth Jazz artist Ben Tankard, climbed to #1 Gospel and #20 on Billboard Top 200 on WOW Gospel 2006 and is certified Gold. Their collaboration of the Lionel Richie song "Jesus Is Love" is one of the most played songs on Sirius XM Radio gospel channel for eight years since its initial release.

<i>Zapp</i> (album) 1980 studio album by Zapp

Zapp is the debut studio album by the American funk band Zapp, released on July 30, 1980, by Warner Bros. Records. The album's style and sound bears a striking resemblance to Parliament-Funkadelic, as the band was working with and being mentored by P-Funk members William Earl "Bootsy" Collins and George Clinton during the album's production. Produced by frontman Roger Troutman along with funk musician Bootsy Collins, who also provided the guitar work for the album, Zapp was recorded between late 1979 and early 1980 at the United Sound Studios in Detroit, Michigan, of which Parliament-Funkadelic frequented.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Computer Love (Zapp song)</span> 1986 single by Zapp

"Computer Love" is a song performed by American funk band Zapp, issued as the fourth and final single from their fourth studio album The New Zapp IV U. Featuring vocals by Shirley Murdock and Charlie Wilson and written by Murdock, Zapp Band leader Roger Troutman and his brother Larry Troutman, the single peaked at number 8 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1986.

<i>Zapp II</i> 1982 studio album by Zapp

Zapp II is the second studio album by American funk band Zapp, released on 1982 via Warner Bros. Records. The album peaked at #25 on the US Billboard 200 chart and at #2 on the US Billboard R&B chart. Three singles were released from the album, "Doo Wa Ditty " / "A Touch of Jazz ", "Dance Floor" and "Playin' Kinda Ruff" / "Do You Really Want an Answer?". "Dance Floor" was the biggest R&B hit from the album, peaking at #1. The album was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) on September 21, 1982.

<i>Funk or Walk</i> 1978 studio album by Brides of Funkenstein

Funk or Walk is the debut album by the Brides of Funkenstein, released on Atlantic Records in September 1978. The album was produced by George Clinton with the exception of the album's first single "Disco To Go" which was written and produced by Clinton and Bootsy Collins. The Brides of Funkenstein consisted of Lynn Mabry and Dawn Silva, who were members of Sly and the Family Stone prior to joining P-Funk. Funk Or Walk earned Mabry and Silva a Record World Award for Best New Female Artists and Best New R&B Group in 1979. The song was originally performed live by Bootsy's Rubber Band. To this day, the P-Funk All Stars continue to play "Disco To Go" in their live concerts. The Brides of Funkenstein also toured and recorded with Parliament/Funkadelic around this same time.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uncle Jam Records</span>

Uncle Jam Records was a record label formed by Parliament-Funkadelic leader George Clinton and his personal manager Archie Ivy. The label was distributed nationally by CBS Records.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">More Bounce to the Ounce</span> 1980 single by Zapp

"More Bounce to the Ounce" is the debut single by American funk band Zapp. It is the opening track on their eponymous debut album and serves as the album's first single. The song was written, arranged, composed and produced by Roger Troutman; and it peaked at No. 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1980.

<i>The Whole Funk & Nothing but the Funk: Definitive Funkadelic 1976–1981</i> 2005 greatest hits album by Funkadelic

The Whole Funk & Nothing But the Funk is a 2005 compilation album by Funkadelic featuring songs recorded for Warner Bros. Records during the band's career with that label from 1976 to 1981. No Funkadelic recordings from any other record labels or time periods are included. The compilation includes two rarities: instrumental versions of "One Nation Under a Groove" and "The Electric Spanking of War Babies" that had originally appeared as B-sides.

<i>The New Zapp IV U</i> 1985 studio album by Zapp

The New Zapp IV U is the fourth studio album by the American funk band Zapp, released on October 25, 1985 by Warner Bros. Records. The album contained the song "Computer Love", which reached #8 on the US Billboard R&B chart. The album became the last release before frontman Roger Troutman would focus his efforts on his solo career; their next album, titled Zapp Vibe would be released later in 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">I Want to Be Your Man</span> 1987 single by Roger

"I Want to Be Your Man" is a song by American funk singer-songwriter Roger Troutman, from his third studio album Unlimited!. It was released as the lead single from the album in September 1987 by Reprise Records. The song was co-written by Roger's brother, Larry Troutman, and produced by Roger, who conceived of the song as a statement on romantic commitment. "I Want to Be Your Man" features Roger singing in both his natural tenor and his trademark talk box.

<i>The Saga Continues...</i> (Roger Troutman album) 1984 studio album by Roger

The Saga Continues... is the second solo album recorded by funk musician Roger Troutman, released in 1984 on the Warner Bros. label. The album contains Troutman's cover of Wilson Pickett's "In the Midnight Hour", which reached #34 on the U.S. R&B chart, as well as hits "In the Mix" and "Girl Cut It Out", a duet with Wanda Rash. Like his previous solo offering, The Many Facets of Roger, Troutman and his band mates from Zapp, including brothers Lester, Larry and Terry, helped contribute to the album.

References

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.