Singer Roger Troutman And Brother Larry Troutman Die In Apparent Murder-Suicide
R&B singer Roger Troutman was recently shot to death along with his brother in what was believed to be a murder-suicide, police said in news reports.Troutman, who won fame with the family group Zapp, was found outside his northwest Dayton, OH, recording studio at around 7 a.m. on April 25.
The 47-year-old Dayton resident was shot several times in the torso and died while in surgery at Good Samaritan Hospital and Health Center, said police Sgt. Gary White.
His brother, Larry Troutman, 54, was found dead in a car a few blocks away with a gunshot wound to the head, police said. A handgun, found inside the car, matched the description of a car leaving the scene of Roger Troutman's shooting, Sgt. White said.
Detectives are investigating it as an apparent murder-suicide, police said. But family members "can offer no reason or motive," Sgt. White said.
The brothers were part of the Troutman family of performers who formed the band Zapp and helped pioneer the rock-funk "Dayton sound" in the 1970s. Roger Troutman perfected music's the talkbox-a popular electronic voice-altering device.
The band, more recently known as Zapp & Roger, was known for the 1980 hit, More Bounce to the Ounce. Other hits include Dance Floor, Computer Love, I Can Make You Dance and Doo Wah Ditty (Blow That Thing).
Roger eventually went solo for a time. As Roger, he hit No. I on the R&B charts with I Want To Be Your Man. He also collaborated with hiphop superstars Tupac Shakur and Dr. Dre on the tune California Love.
Larry Troutman stopped performing in the mid-'80s to manage the group full time and head the family business, Troutman Enterprises, which included recording studios, real estate venture and contracting.
Jet May 10 1999
COPYRIGHT 1999 Johnson Publishing Co. in association with The Gale Group and LookSmart. COPYRIGHT 2000 Gale Group
Article 7
Kool Keith Mourns Loss Of Roger Troutman
04.30.1999
Some of Roger Troutman's last recorded work will turn up on Kool Keith's forthcoming album, "Black Elvis/Lost in Space," as the slain Zapp frontman appears on the track "Master of the Game."
As we previously reported (see "Zapp's Roger And Larry Troutman Killed In Apparent Murder-Suicide"), Troutman was fatally shot outside of a studio in Dayton, Ohio in the early hours of April 25. During a recent interview with the MTV Radio Network, Kool Keith talked about working with Troutman, a man Keith says he feels honored to have had a chance to work with.
"I'd rather not see anybody go out that way," Keith explained. "That's another original person gone. I mean, I get off to hear another [talkbox on a] record. Some people don't like it because they're doing what they think is funky. I feel that's a big loss. What can you say?"
Kool Keith's new record, "Black Elvis/Lost in Space," is due in stores on July 13, and the first single will be for the track "The Girls Don't Like the Job." Keith says he is also preparing to regroup with the other members of the Ultramagnetic MCs.