Collection of Roger Troutman Innovative funkster Roger Troutman was the master of the vocoder -- a keyboard synthesizer that created robotic-sounding vocals through the simultaneous use of a piano-like interface and a breath controller (breath tube), somewhat like a guitar talk box. What James Jamerson did for the bass, Jimi Hendrix for the guitar, and Stevie Wonder for the harmonica, Troutman did for the vocoder. As a member of Zapp, a band that included his brothers Larry, Lester, and Tony, and recording under the solo moniker of Roger, he helped define and give life to a difficult-to-play instrument that previously was used for gimmicky effects and, as played by others, was basically devoid of personality. With his winning smile and charming playfulness, Troutman was a favorite on stage and record. He'd often bring his vocoder along on radio interviews, treating the listeners to his amazing vocoder skills. Born November 29, 1951, in Hamilton, OH, Troutman developed his musical skills in the thriving Dayton, OH, R&B/soul/funk scene of the '70s along with the Ohio Players and others. As protégé of Parliament-Funkadelic's George Clinton and with Troutman's vocoder-filtered vocals up front, Zapp had several hits for Warner Bros. Records during the '80s: 'More Bounce to the Ounce' (number two R&B for two weeks, fall 1980), 'Be Alright Pt.1' (number 26 R&B, late 1980), 'Dance Floor (Part 1)' (number one R&B, summer 1982), 'Doo Wa Ditty (Blow That Thing)' (number ten R&B, fall 1982), 'I Can Make You Dance (Pt.1)' (number four R&B, summer 1983), 'Heartbreaker (Pt.1)' (number 15 R&B, fall 1983), the funk/pop music legends tribute 'It Doesn't Really Matter' (number 41 R&B, fall 1985), the classic 'Computer Love (Pt.1)' (number eight R&B, late 1986), 'Ooh Baby Baby' (number 18 R&B, fall 1989), and Zapp & Roger's 'Mega Medley' (number 30 R&B, summer 1993). Like his mentor Clinton, who recorded for several labels at the same time under different monikers, Troutman recorded simultaneously as Roger, releasing albums and hit singles on Warner Bros. and its subsidiary label Reprise: a cover of the Gladys Knight and the Pips/Marvin Gaye hit 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' (number one R&B for two weeks, fall 1981), 'Do It Roger' (number 24 R&B, late 1981), 'In the Mix' (number ten R&B, spring 1984), a cover of Wilson Pickett's 'Midnight Hour Pt.1' featuring the Mighty Clouds of Joy (number 34 R&B, spring 1984), 'I Want to Be Your Man' (number one R&B, number three pop, fall 1987), 'Thrill Seekers' (number 27 R&B, early 1988), '(Everybody) Get Up' (number 19 R&B, fall 1991), 'Take Me Back' (number 37 R&B, early 1992), 'Slow and Easy' (number 18 R&B, fall 1993), and the remix of 'Computer Love' featuring Shirley Murdock and Charlie Wilson (number 65 R&B). Troutman also guested on 'Boom! There She Was' by the group Scritti Politti (number 53 pop, summer 1988). In the mid-'80s, Troutman opened a state-of-the-art recording studio in Dayton called Troutman Sound Labs. Working with singer Shirley Murdock and the Ohio Players' Sugarfoot, Troutman recorded material whose resulting vinyl LP releases had pristine, almost CD-quality clarity before there were CDs. Murdock had hits with 'No More' (number 24 R&B), 'As We Lay' (number five R&B, fall 1986), 'Go on Without You' (number five R&B, early 1987), 'Husband' (number five R&B, summer 1988), 'In Your Eyes' (number seven R&B, summer 1991), and 'Stay With Me Tonight' (number 34 R&B, fall 1991). Sugarfoot's late-'80s Warner Bros. LP Kiss is a favorite of funk connoisseurs. As the hits waned, the Troutman brothers opened a housing business headed by their brother Larry that in the '90s, according to published reports, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, owing over three million dollars in debt and over $400,000 in delinquent taxes. During the late '90s, Troutman enjoyed a renaissance. Zapp & Roger's hits were sampled by a slew of rap and hip-hop artists including Hammer, 2Pac, Dru Hill, Dr. Dre, Kris Kross, Blackstreet, Janet Jackson, the Notorious B.I.G., H-Town, Ice Cube, Redman, EPMD, Ralph Tresvant, and Snoop Dogg. Troutman was spotlighted on Johnny Gill's 1997 single 'It's Your Body.' On the morning of April 25, 1999, Roger Troutman was found shot behind the alley of his Roger Tee Enterprises. Witnesses reported seeing a man in a black car leave the scene of the crime. His brother Larry, a former Zapp member, was found fatally shot in a Lincoln sedan crashed against a tree seven blocks from the studio. The county coroner ruled the shootings a murder/suicide. Roger Troutman died at age 47 on April 25, 1999, at Good Samaritan Hospital in Dayton, OH. Roger Troutman's last two tracks, 'Party Time' and 'Nuthin' but a Party,' are on the compilation United We Funk from Major Label/Pyramid/Rhino. The set includes tracks by Rick James, the SOS Band, the Gap Band, ConFunkShun, and the System. The following year, Thump Records released Tribute to Roger Troutman, which featured hip-hop and R&B songs that sampled and showcased Troutman's work. Album: The Many Facets Of Roger (1981) 01. I Heard It Through The Grapevine 02. So Ruff, So Tuff 03. A Chunk Of Sugar 04. Do It Roger 05. Maxx Axe 06. Blue (A Tribute To The Blues) 07. I Heard It Through The Grapevine (Single Version) 08. Do It Roger (Single Version) 09. Superman http://www14.zippyshare.com/v/25874159/file.html
Album: The Saga Continues (1984) 01. In The Mix 02. Play Your Guitar Brother Roger 03. The Break Song 04. I Keep Trying 05. Midnight Hour 06. Bucket Of Blood 07. T C Song 08. Girl Cut It Out http://www60.zippyshare.com/v/95328126/file.html Album: Unlimited! (1987) 01. I Want To Be Your Man 02. Night And Day 03. Been This Way Before (Rap) 04. Composition To Commemorate (May 30, 1918) 05. Papa's Got A Brand New Bag 06. Thrill Seekers 07. Tender Moments 08. If You're Serious 09. Private Lover 10. I Really Want To Be Your Man 11. Bedistgutarist-A-Rown http://www23.zippyshare.com/v/81042452/file.html Album: Bridging The Gap (1991) 01. (Everybody) Get Up 02. Take Me Back 03. Curiosity 04. You Should Be Mine 05. Emotions 06. Break Through 07. Love Incorporated 08. Victim Of Love 09. Who-La-Boola 10. Hurry Up http://www66.zippyshare.com/v/48254862/file.html Album: Roger - Revisited (2010) CD1 01. Roger Revisited - Intro 02. Man Man & Doggmaster - In The Mix 03. Sovan & Tchoi & Enois Scroggins - Doo Wa Ditty 04. Ahmed - Computer Love 05. M4K & Mo Cheez & Enois Scroggins - You've Got Mail 06. Stereo - Victim Of Love 07. Kra-Z Dogg - It Doesn't Really Matter 08. Jboozket - So Ruff So Tuff 09. EsPe - Take Me Back 10. Funkyvike - I Heard It Through The Grapevine 11. Filoucelli & Stereo - Dance Floor CD2
01. Man Man - I Can Make You Dance 02. Funkyames & EsPe - Chocolate City 03. Darvy - More Bounce To The Ounce 04. Stereo - Emotions 05. EsPe & Ahmed - Radio People 06. Ahmed - This Is Our Song To You 07. Rpiz - Heartbreaker 08. Stereo & Enois Scroggins - Nuthin' But A Party 09. Filoucelli - Love Incorporated 10. EsPe - I Want To Be Your Man 11. Roger Revisited - Outro http://www43.zippyshare.com/v/18269001/file.html Enjoy!!!!