Music Royalty’s Cain and Abel: The Curious Case of Roger and Zapp

In the realm of funk and early hip-hop, few names shined as brightly or ended as tragically as Roger and Larry Troutman. As founding forces behind the band Zapp, their pioneering sound helped shape the sonic identity of the 1980s and ’90s, heavily influencing artists from Dr. Dre to 2Pac. But on April 25, 1999, the world was shaken by a headline that seemed torn from biblical tragedy: Roger Troutman was fatally shot by his brother Larry in what police concluded was a murder-suicide. 

The news stunned fans, collaborators, and the entire music industry. Roger Troutman, the talkbox virtuoso behind hits like More Bounce to the Ounce, I Wanna Be Your Man,  and Computer Love was gunned down outside Sam Records Studio in Dayton, Ohio, the same city where Zapp was born. He had just exited the studio when he was ambushed and shot multiple times in the torso. Though he was rushed to Good Samaritan Hospital, Roger succumbed to his injuries shortly after.

Larry Troutman’s lifeless body was discovered in a vehicle that had crashed into a tree a few blocks away with a single gunshot wound to the head. A handgun was recovered from the scene, and the case was ruled a murder-suicide. Larry Troutman shot his brother Roger Troutman. Some days later, both brothers would be laid to rest in Monroe, Ohio.

Background & The Rise of a Funk Dynasty

Larry, the first of the Troutman children was born on August 12, 1944, while Roger, the forth of the Troutman children was born on November 29, 1951. They were just two of ten children born to Rufus Sr and Addie Ruth Troutman, in Hamilton, Ohio. Roger Troutman formed several bands with his brothers, Lester, Larry, Thomas, and Terry Troutman. One of their earliest groups was Lil' Roger and His Fabulous Vels, which released the single Jolly Roger in 1966. A decade later, the band rebranded as Roger & The Human Body, and by 1979, they had adopted the name Zapp, which was Terry Troutman's childhood nickname. This time, the name stuck, while sometime alternating between Roger and Zapp.

The group caught the attention of Bootsy Collins, who introduced them to George Clinton. Impressed by their sound, Clinton convinced Warner Bros. Records to sign them, and the rest was history. 

In addition to the Troutman brothers, the band also included their cousin Sherman Fleetwood and close friends Gregory Jackson, Bobby Glover, Michael Jennings, Jerome Derrickson, Eddie Barber, and Jannetta Boyce. Shirley Murdock eventually rounded out the group but would go on to become a star in her own right. With help from Roger Troutman, she released a solo album featuring standout tracks As We Lay, Go on Without You, and Truth or Dare.

With Larry's business acumen and Roger’s musical genius, the band blended Parliament-style funk with cutting-edge technology, most famously, Roger’s talkbox, which manipulated his vocals into robotic melodies that would go on to inspire generations of hip-hop and R&B producers. 

Roger & Zapp's songs would be sampled some 838 times, by the likes of Tupac, Biggie Smalls aka The Notorious B.I.G., DJ Quick, EPMD, Dr. Dre, and Ice Cube, just to name a few. 

Their success was meteoric. More Bounce to the Ounce became a staple of West Coast rap sampling, while Roger’s solo work, particularly his 1987 cover of “I Want to Be Your Man,” showcased his crossover appeal. Roger and Zapp believed that their successes as due in part to their no drug, no alcohol policy.

Roger was always in demand. In 1996, Dr. Dre would be the first producer and 2Pac the first rapper to secure Roger Troutman as a featured artist on Tupac's song, California Love. 

Here, Kendrick Lamar recalls the day he accidentally stumbled upon the video shooting of California Love.

Behind the scenes, however, tension simmered. Roger and Larry’s dynamic was complex, brotherly love mixed with professional disagreements. Larry managed the group’s finances and business decisions, while Roger was the creative frontman. Over time, disputes over money, creative control, and individual ambitions eroded their relationship.

What Led to the Tragedy?

Though the exact motive remains speculative, reports at the time indicated that Roger was preparing to make a significant change in his career, possibly separating himself from his brothers professionally. There's no doubt that jealousy may have played a major role in the deaths. 

Further, Zapp’s business ventures had suffered financially in the years leading up to the shooting, with tax issues and the closure of their family-run nightclub, The Troutman Enterprises Complex, weighing heavily on Larry.

Some believe that Larry, facing financial ruin and potential marginalization from the group’s future, snapped under the pressure. Others see the tragedy as the ultimate act of a man who felt betrayed, not just by business, but by blood.

Legacy Amid Loss

Despite the horror of that day in 1999, the legacy of Roger Troutman and Zapp lives on. Their music is immortal in samples, remixes, and interpolations. Tracks like 2Pac’s California Love, which prominently features Roger’s unmistakable vocals and beats, serve as sonic monuments to his genius.

In the end, the story of Roger and Larry Troutman remains one of music's most chilling tragedies, a modern-day Cain and Abel set against the backdrop of fame, family, and funk. It is a reminder of the thin line between loyalty and betrayal, and how even royalty can fall when brotherhood turns to rivalry.