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Bobby Troup was an American actor, jazz pianist, singer, and songwriter. As a songwriter, Troup is mostly remembered for writing the hit song "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" (1946), about a cross-country drive through the highway U.S. Route 66. Tne song was originally performed by Nat King Cole and the King Cole Trio, and a second version was performed by Bing Crosby and the Andrews Sisters. Both versions were 1946 hits, and the song has since received many covers. As as an actor Troup is mostly remembered for playing Dr. Joe Early in the medical drama "Emergency!" (1972-1977).
Troup was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He attended the Hill School, a preparatory boarding school located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. In his college years, Troup attended the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, a private Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He graduated with a degree in economics.
Troup's first success as a songwriter was writing "Daddy" (1941), a hit song performed first by Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra. Popular versions of the song were then recorded by Glenn Miller, Bing Crosby, Kay Kyser, and The Andrews Sisters. However, his music career was interrupted by World War II service.
Troup enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January 1942. He was trained as an officer, and then assigned to train African-American marine recruits at the camp Montford Point (modern Camp Gilbert H. Johnson), located in Jacksonville, North Carolina. In 1943, Troup became a recreation officer. He helped build a recreation hall, basketball court, and outdoor boxing ring. He also founded the first African-American band of U.S. Marines, and composed the song "Take Me Away from Jacksonville". The song is still used as an anthem by North-Carolina-based Marines.
While still serving with the Marines, Troup composed the popular song "Snootie Little Cutie" (1942) . It was first recorded by singers Frank Sinatra and Connie Haines. Following the end of the War, Troup returned to his music career. "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66" was his first post-war hit as a songwriter. Other hits included "The Girl Can't Help It" (1956) performed by Little Richard, "The Meaning of the Blues" (1957) performed by Julie London, and "My City of Sydney" (1969) performed by Tommy Leonetti.
Troup released 10 records with his own recordings between 1953 and 1959. Despite his success as a songwriter, none of his records as a singer or pianist were commercially successful. His greatest success through the decade placed him in the producer's role, for Julie London's version of the hit song "Cry Me a River" (1955). It became a gold record.
Troup started acting as a side career. He made his film debut as an uncredited musician in the romantic comedy "Duchess of Idaho" (1950). He had credited roles in musical films such as "Bop Girl Goes Calypso" (1957), "The High Cost of Loving" (1958), and "The Five Pennies" (1959). Troup played then-recently deceased bandleader Tommy Dorsey (1905-1956) in the biographical "The Gene Krupa Story" (1959). His last film role was that of disgruntled staff sergeant Gorman in the military-themed comedy "M*A*S*H" (1970).
Troup had a more substantial career in television. He was cast as a fictionalized version of himself in the short-lived series "Acapulco" (1961). He had guest-star roles in popular series such as "Perry Mason", "Dragnet", and "Mannix". He found success in his long-running role of Dr. Joe Early in "Emergency". Early was depicted as a neurosurgeon, working at Rampart General Hospital. The series lasted for 6 seasons, and a total of 122 regular episodes. Six television films based on the series were broadcast between 1978 and 1979.
In the 1980s, Troup appeared in the stalker-themed television film "The 25th Man" (1982), which was intended as a pilot for a television series. His last television appearance was a guest-star role in a 1985 episode of the detective series "Simon & Simon". Troup was 67-years-old at the time.
Troup lived in retirement until 1999. He died due to a heart attack in February 1999. He was 80-years-old at the time of death. He was survived by his second wife Julie London, who died in October 2000.
