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Bobby TroupAmerican actor, jazz musician and composer
Date of Birth: 18.10.1918
Country:  USA |
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Biography of Bobby Troup
Bobby Troup (full name Robert William 'Bobby' Troup Jr.) was born in 1918 in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, USA. He was an American actor, jazz musician, and composer. After school, Robert became a student at Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. During World War II, he served as a captain in the United States Marine Corps.
Early Musical Success
Troup's first musical success came in 1941 with the composition 'Daddy', which became a regional hit. Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra's rendition of the song topped the 'Billboard Best Seller chart' for eight weeks. Frank Sinatra and Connie Haines also performed his song 'Snootie Little Cutie' with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Pied Pipers. Troup's style has been compared to Nat King Cole's music, and it was Cole who popularized his most famous hit of the 1940s, 'Get Your Kicks On) Route 66', which later became a jazz standard. The Rolling Stones released a recording of this song in 1964, and it was also featured in the popular animated film 'Cars' in 2006.
Later Career
Although the 1950s and 1960s were not particularly commercially successful for Troup, he worked as a session musician with other artists at Liberty Records and Capitol Records during that time. In addition to his musical career, Troup also pursued acting in film and television. He was a regular participant in the game show 'Musical Chairs' from the mid-1950s, where he also composed music for the show. Troup was a permanent host of the television show 'Stars of Jazz'. He appeared in numerous films, including portraying Tommy Dorsey in Don Weis's musical biopic 'Stars of Jazz' in 1959. That same year, he also appeared in another musical project, Melville Shavelson's film 'The Five Pennies'.
Personal Life and Legacy
Troup was married twice. His first wife was Cynthia Hare, with whom he had two daughters. His second wife was the renowned actress and singer Julie London, whom he married on December 31, 1959. They had three children together. It is noteworthy that London was previously married to Jack Webb, in whose films Troup also appeared. Additionally, Troup and London portrayed a married couple in the television film 'Emergency!' in 1972. Bobby Troup passed away on February 7, 1999, from a heart attack at the UCLA Medical Center. He is buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood Hills. His wife Julie passed away the following year. Troup left behind a legacy of musical compositions, screen roles, and soundtracks. Those who knew him remember him as an active and cheerful individual who never succumbed to despair. 'The best way to relax is to never relax,' Troup jokingly said during his lifetime.
