Bobby Troup

Actor, composer, and jazz pianist Bobby Troup graduated from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Troup's first musical success was writing the song "Daddy" in 1941, which stayed at number one on the Billboard Best Seller chart for eight weeks; it was subsequently recorded by Glenn Miller and The Andrews Sisters. Frank Sinatra also recorded his song "Snootie Little Cutie." During World War II, Troup was a Marines Captain on an all-black unit in Jacksonville, North Carolina. Troup's troops built huts, a nightclub, a boxing ring, and formed a jazz band and orchestra. His immensely popular song "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66," was recorded, at different times, by Chuck Berry, Nat King Cole, and The Rolling Stones. Troup wrote the theme song of the 1950s rock and roll movie "The Girl Can't Help It," which was sung by Little Richard. In the mid-1950s, along with Mel Blanc and Johnny Mercer, Troup was a panelist on the quiz show "Musical Chairs," also providing much of the show's music. In 1959, he married singer Julie London and later produced London's hit record "Cry Me a River." As an actor, Troup played the cordial Dr. Joe Early on the 1970s TV series "Emergency!," opposite Julie London and directed by Jack Webb (London's ex-husband). In February, 1999, Troup died at UCLA Medical Center of a massive heart attack.