Formed 1978 in Dayton, Ohio
Zapp comprised of:
Original line-up:
Roger Troutman (vocals, guitar, bass, keyboards, harmonica, vibraphone, percussion, talk box) (b. 29th November 1951, Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.A. d. 25th April 1999, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A.)
Larry Troutman (percussion) (b. 12th August 1944, Hamilton, Ohio, U.S.A. d. 25th April 1999, Dayton, Ohio, U.S.A.)
Lester Troutman (drums)
Terry Troutman (keyboards, bass, background vocals)
Bobby Glover
and
Greg Jackson (keyboards, Lead and Background vocals) (b. 7th July 1955, Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.)
Other members:
Aaron Blackman (guitars)
Mark Thomas (drums & vocals)
Arsdale Harris III (keyboards)Eddie Barber
Jannetta Boyce
Robert Jones
Jerome Derrickson
Sherman Fleetwood
Michael Warren
Shirley Murdock (b. 22nd May 1957, Toledo, Ohio, U.S.A.)
Nicole Cottom
Dale DeGroat
Bart Thomas
Ricardo Bray
Bigg Robb (a.k.a Robert Smith)
Rhonda Stevens
Ray Davis (b. 29th March 1940, U.S.A. d. 5th July 2005, U.S.A.)
Roger Troutman Jr. (b. 31st January 1970, Ohio, U.S.A. d. 22nd January 2003, Ohio, U.S.A.)
Thomas Troutman
Rufus Troutman III
Davis Brown (sound man)
Wanda Rash (vocalist)
Toika Troutman (vocalist)
and
Marchelle Smith (vocalist)
Zapp are a funk group formed in Hamilton, Ohio, in 1977.
Their music was unique in it’s funk sound, showcased by the vocoder/talk box vocalisings of the group leaders Roger along with his brother, Larry Troutman.
The original line-up consisted of four siblings, namely, Roger Troutman, Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman and Terry Troutman, along with Gregory Jackson.
Roger Troutman had been working on various solo projects.
jolly roger b/w night time - 1966
His output dated back to the Sixties, releasing 45’s entitled ‘Jolly Roger’‘Night Time’ for the Teen Records imprint in 1966.
His ‘band were known as ‘Lil' Roger and His Fabulous Vels’, becoming ‘Roger & The Human Body’ in the Seventies.
In the group’s early incarnation, Zapp’s sound was heavily influenced by their collaborators, George Clinton and Bootsy Collins (both with the group Parliament).
In 1979, Zapp signed to the Warner Bros. Records imprint.
zapp I - 1980 / zapp II - 1982 / zapp III - 1983 / zapp IV - 1985
The following year, the first of their self titled albums was released.
Each subsequent album became identified by the number associated with the group’s name.
Their debut album featured the funk single ‘More Bounce to the Ounce’ which instantly became a club hit.
George Clinton’s involvement with the group finished in 1981, however, the group released ‘Zapp II’ in 1982, which, in turn, reached number two on the Billboard R&B chart, also reaching 25 on The Billboard 200 Albums chart.
A single ‘Dancefloor’ reached at number one on the R&B singles chart that year.
Zapp went on to release three further albums throughout the Eighties.
zapp V - vibe - 1989 / zapp VI - back by popular demand - 2003
In 1994, Zapp's compilation album ‘All the Greatest Hits’ was went platinum, as a result, partly of a resurgence in the group’s West Coast sound, along with a rising interest in the Rap scene at the time.
Zapp disbanded in 1999, following the tragic shootings ending in the suicide of both of the Troutman Brothers.
Roger Troutman was shot and passed away in the Good Samaritan Hospital in Ohio during surgery.
Larry Troutman was found by his car with a single gunshot wound to the head.
Zapp reformed briefly in 2003 with the remaining brothers of the Troutman family.
‘Zapp VI: Back By Popular Demand’ was released that year, and was followed in subsequent years by various concerts across the States.
Bobby Glover and Shirley Murdock both pursued successful solo careers.
As a solo artist, Roger Troutman released his first LP (his first singles having been released under the name Little Roger & the Veils) in 1976 under the name 'Roger & The Human Body' on his own Troutman Records (#001).
Thank you to Blaise at the French 'Funk U' Magazine for that info and the picture below.
Blaise also recommended this excellent site all about Zapp. Just Click Here.
Roger & Larry Troutman Obituary
Albums:
Zapp (Warner Brothers Records 1980)
Zapp II (Warner Brothers Records 1982)
Zapp III (Warner Brothers Records 1983)
The New Zapp IV U (Warner Brothers Records 1984)
Zapp V (Reprise Records 1989)
Zapp VI Back By Popular Demand ( Zapp Town Records 2003)
as Roger Troutman:
Roger & The Human Body (Troutman Records 1976)
The Many Facets Of Roger (Warner Brothers Records 1981)
The Saga Continues (Warner Brothers Records 1984)
Unlimited (Reprise Records 1987)
Bridging The Gap (Reprise Records 1991)
