Bobby Troup facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bobby Troup
Troup as Dr. Joe Early on 1970s television show, Emergency! (with wife Julie 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	Musician, actor
Years active	1941–1995
Spouse(s)	Cynthia Hare ​ ​ (m. 1942; div. 1955)​ Julie London ​ ​ (m. 1959)​
Children	5, including Ronne

Robert William Troup Jr. (born October 18, 1918 – died February 7, 1999) was an American actor, jazz pianist, singer, and songwriter. He is famous for writing the popular song "Route 66". He also played Dr. Joe Early in the 1970s TV show Emergency!, alongside his wife Julie London.

Early Life and Education

Robert William Troup Jr. was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. His father, Robert William Troup, was a pianist who worked for the family's music business.

Bobby Troup went to The Hill School, a special school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. He finished there in 1937. Later, he graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. He studied economics and was a very good student.

Music Career Highlights

Early Songwriting Success

Bobby Troup's first big music success was in 1941. He wrote a song called "Daddy". This song became very popular.

Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra recorded "Daddy," and it was the number one song for eight weeks! Many other famous musicians also recorded it, like Glenn Miller and Bing Crosby. You can even hear "Daddy" in the 1941 movie Two Latins from Manhattan.

Serving in the Military

After college in 1941, Bobby Troup joined the United States Marine Corps. He helped train the first black Marines at Montford Point.

He also helped build places for fun, like a recreation hall and a basketball court. While serving, he started the first African-American band of U.S. Marines. He even wrote a song called "Take Me Away from Jacksonville" for the Marines.

Famous Songs and Recordings

In 1942, Troup's song "Snootie Little Cutie" was recorded by Frank Sinatra and Connie Haines. They sang it with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra.

His most famous song, "Route 66", became a huge hit in 1946. Nat King Cole first made it popular. Later, many other famous artists recorded it, including Chuck Berry and The Rolling Stones.

Troup also wrote a cool jazz version of the fairy tale "The Three Bears". It was recorded by the Page Cavanaugh Trio in 1946.

He wrote the main song for the 1950s rock and roll movie The Girl Can't Help It, sung by Little Richard. An instrumental version of his song "The Meaning of the Blues" was even on a Miles Davis album.

Acting in TV and Movies

Cast of TV's Emergency! (1973), L-R: Kevin Tighe, Robert Fuller, Julie London, Bobby Troup and Randolph Mantooth

Besides writing music, Bobby Troup was also an actor. He appeared in several movies, like The Five Pennies (1959). In that film, he played the musician Tommy Dorsey.

He was a guest star on the TV show Perry Mason three times. He even showed off his musical skills in some of those episodes. In 1960, he appeared with his wife Julie London in an episode of Rawhide.

One of his most well-known acting roles was in the 1970 film M*A*S*H. He played a character named Staff Sergeant Gorman.

His biggest TV role came in 1972. He was cast as Dr. Joe Early in the TV series Emergency!. His wife, Julie London, played Nurse Dixie McCall in the same show. They were a popular team on screen.

Personal Life

Bobby Troup married Cynthia Hare in May 1942. They had two daughters, Cynnie and Ronne Troup, who both worked in entertainment. Their marriage ended in 1955.

He later met singer Julie London. He helped her with her singing career. In 1955, he produced her very successful song "Cry Me a River". Julie London and Bobby Troup got married in 1959. They had one daughter, Kelly, and twin sons, Jody and Reese.

Death

Bobby Troup passed away from a heart attack on February 7, 1999. He was in Sherman Oaks, a suburb of Los Angeles.

Discography

• Bobby Troup! (Capitol, 1953)
• Bobby Troup and His Trio (Liberty, 1955)
• The Songs of Bobby Troup (Bethlehem, 1955)
• Bobby Troup Sings Johnny Mercer (Bethlehem, 1955)
• The Distinctive Style of Bobby Troup (Bethlehem, 1955)
• Bobby Swings Tenderly (Mode, 1957)
• Do Re Mi (Liberty, 1957)
• Here's to My Lady (Liberty, 1958)
• Cool Bobby Troup (Interlude, 1959)
• Bobby Troup and His Stars of Jazz (RCA Victor, 1959)
• Two Part Inventions for Trumpet with Benny Golson (Twig, 1970)
• In a Class Beyond Compare (Audiophile, 1981)
• Kicks On Route 66 (Hindsight, 1995)
• Makin' Whoopee But Oh So Tenderly (Vintage Jazz)
• The Feeling of Jazz (Starline, 1994)

Selected Compositions

See also

In Spanish: Bobby Troup para niños