Biography

Roger Troutman (born November 29, 1951), also addressed as Roger, was a renowned American singer, guitarist, and record producer. He was best known for forming the funk group Zapp. 

He also composed songs while singing and playing various instruments, such as the bass guitar, harmonica, vibraphone, and flute. 

He was well recognized for altering the sound of a musical instrument with a tool called a talk box. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, Roger Troutman impacted West Coast hip hop and the funk movement. 

Throughout his career, he produced a sizable number of top songs and albums, making him one of the funk rock genre’s superstars during his prime. One of Roger Troutman‘s biggest hits was his debut studio album, The Many Facets of Roger.

Roger Troutman
Roger Troutman: History • Bio • Photo
Wiki Facts & About Data
Full Name:	Roger Troutman
Stage Name:	Roger
Born:	29 November 1951 (age 47 years old)
Place of Birth:	Hamilton, Ohio, United States
Died:	25 April 1999, Dayton, Ohio, United States
Nationality:	American
Height:	1,71 m
Parents:	Addie Ruth Troutman, Rufus Troutman Sr
Siblings:	Terry Troutman, Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman
Wife • Spouse:	Mercedez
Girlfriend • Partner:	N/A
Children:	Roger Lynch, Mia Paris Collins, Daun Shazier, Roger Troutman Jr
Occupation:	Singer • Record Producer
Net Worth:	US$1 million

Early Life

Roger Troutman was born in Hamilton, Ohio, United States, on November 29, 1951. He was born to Addie Ruth Troutman (mother) and Rufus Troutman Sr (father). His family was large, consisting of nine siblings.

Some of his brothers were Larry Troutman, Lester Troutman, and Terry Troutman. He dived into music at a young age. His music was discovered and adored, which led to his charting.

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In addition, he produced several top-charting singles, including I Heard It Through the Grapevine and I Want to Be Your Man.

Roger Troutman collaborated with Dr. Dre and Tupac Shakur, two of the best American rappers in history, in the middle of the 1990s. After his career saw a revival in the late 1990s, he also made appearances with other hip-hop musicians. 

Career

Roger Troutman became interested in music early in life and founded several bands with his brothers and friends like David Spitzmiller, Rick Schoeny, and Roy Beck.

In the middle of the 1970s, he and his brothers started a band called Roger & The Human Body. They put their sole album, Introducing Roger, on their Troutman Bros. Records label. However, the group had to start playing at neighborhood events because of the lack of exposure. 

In honor of Terry Troutman, who is the brother of Roger Troutman, the group and Roger Troutman decided to rename the band, Zapp. The well-known Collins brothers, Catfish Collins and Bootsy Collins, who were close to the Troutman family, first noticed Roger Troutman and the band. 

George Clinton, a record producer, was drawn to the band’s song More Bounce to the Ounce and suggested that Roger Troutman contact Warner Bros. Records. The recording was adored by Warner Bros., who hired Zapp in 1979.

Their debut studio album, Zapp, peaked at number 19 on the Billboard 200 chart and at the top of the US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. The album was recognized and given an award by The Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).

The second studio album by Zapp, titled Zapp II, was released in 1982. It peaked at number two on the US R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart and cracked the top 30 on the Billboard 200 chart. The RIAA also awarded this album a gold certification. 

Zapp members were the Roger Brothers, Roger Troutman, Lester Troutman, Larry Troutman, and Terry Troutman, with external contributions from Bobby Glover, Gregory Jackson, Sherman Fleetwood, Jerome Derrickson, Eddie Barber, and Shirley Murdock.

Roger Troutman and Zapp extended their successful partnership with Warner Bros. by releasing two additional studio albums, The New Zapp IV U and Zapp III, debuting in the top ten on the US R&B chart. After leaving Warner Bros., the band released two more albums, Zapp Vibe and Zapp VI: Back by Popular Demand. Both of these, however, fell short of expectations. 

Between 1981 and 1991, Roger Troutman put out four studio albums on his own. Warner Bros. issued The Many Facets of Roger and The Saga Continues, the band’s first two albums. The second album appeared in the top twenty, while the initial album topped the US R&B chart. 

Reprise released his two recent studio albums, Unlimited! and Bridging the Gap. Unlimited! Appeared in the top forty of The Billboard 200 and peaked at number four on the US R&B chart.

Between 1981 and 1991, Roger Troutman released several hit songs, including the US R&B chart-topping singles I Heard It Through the Grapevine and I Want to Be Your Man.

Personal Life 

By the common law, Mercedez was the spouse of Roger Troutman. Additionally, he had intercourse with several other women. He and his brothers were very close, and three of them were involved in his musical career. 

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Six sons and five daughters, including Roger Lynch, Mia Paris Collins, and Daun Shazier, are still living after the legendary vocalist.

Roger Troutman had a son named Roger Troutman Jr, also a musician, who died in 2003. He had 11 children before his death.

Cause Of Death

Just outside his Dayton recording studio, Roger Troutman was discovered shot numerous times in the abdomen on April 25, 1999. While he was transported to the Good Samaritan Hospital and Health Center, his brother Larry Troutman was found dead inside a car a few blocks away.

During the investigation, it was found that the gun found in Larry Troutman matched the shooting wounds on both brothers. The police concluded that Larry Troutman had shot Roger Troutman and then killed himself. It is assumed that the brothers’ disagreements over money were what ultimately led to this fatal event. 

Net Worth

Roger Troutman‘s net worth is roughly US$1 million, according to our data analysis from sources like Wikipedia, Forbes, and Business Insider.

Social Media

• Twitter: @rogertroutmanww