Robert W. "Bobby" Troup Jr. (October 18, 1918 – February 7, 1999) was an Am… Read Full Bio ↴Robert W. "Bobby" Troup Jr. (October 18, 1918 – February 7, 1999) was an American actor, jazz pianist and songwriter. He is best known for writing the popular standard "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66", and for his role as Dr. Joe Early, opposite his real-life wife Julie London's character, in the 1970s US TV series, Emergency!

Bobby Troup was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He graduated from The Hill School, a preparatory school in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, in 1937. He went on to graduate Phi Beta Kappa from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania with a degree in economics. He was a member of the Sigma Alpha Epsilon (ΣΑΕ) fraternity and the Mask and Wig Club.
His earliest musical success came with the song "Daddy" which was a regional hit in 1941. Sammy Kaye and His Orchestra recorded "Daddy", which was number one for 8 weeks on the Billboard Best Seller chart and the number five record of 1941. Glenn Miller and His Orchestra performed "Daddy" on their radio broadcasts, and The Andrews Sisters also recorded the song. In the same year, Troup's song "Snootie Little Cutie" was recorded by Frank Sinatra and Connie Haines with the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and the Pied Pipers.
Upon graduating from college in 1941 he enlisted in the US Marines, but did not receive orders until January 1942. After completing officer training, he was assigned as one of two dozen white officers to direct recruit training at Montford Point, recruit depot for the first African-American Marines. By spring of 1943 he became recreation officer, in which capacity he was able to spearhead improvements to the facilities at Montford, including building a recreation hall, basketball court, and outdoor boxing ring. He was even able to get a friend to install a miniature golf course. During this time he composed the song "Take Me Away From Jacksonville" which was to become an anthem of sorts for the Marines at Montford Point, even extending to other areas of Camp Lejeune. By numerous accounts Troup was the most popular officer among the Montford recruits. In October 1944 he was promoted to Captain, given command of a depot company, and eventually deployed to Saipan where he served to the end of the war.
Bobby Troup's first marriage was to Cynthia Hare. They were married in May 1942 and had two daughters, Cynnie Troup (b. 1943) and Ronne Troup (b. 1945), both of whom had careers in the entertainment industry.
In 1946, Nat King Cole had a hit with Troup's best known song "(Get Your Kicks On) Route 66". It became a popular standard recorded by many artists, including Chuck Berry (1961) and The Rolling Stones (1964). In 1987, Depeche Mode combined the tune with their own composition, "Behind the Wheel", released it as the B-side of "Behind the Wheel" and it became a radio hit on KROQ 106.7 FM in Los Angeles. In 2006, "Route 66" was featured in the animated movie Cars, and the movie RV with Robin Williams.
Troup met his second wife, torch singer Julie London, at the Celebrity Room, where he was singing. It was Troup who encouraged London to pursue her singing career, and in 1955 he produced her million selling hit record "Cry Me a River". London, previously married to actor Jack Webb (1947 to 1953), married Troup in 1959. They remained married until Troup's death in 1999.
Troup's own recordings in the 1950s and 1960s were not commercially successful. He made recordings for Liberty Records and Capitol Records, many with musicians from the West Coast jazz scene.
Troup also wrote the title song (sung by Little Richard) in the classic 1950s rock and roll movie The Girl Can't Help It. An instrumental rendition of his song "The Meaning of the Blues" appeared on the landmark Miles Davis album, Miles Ahead. Troup's hipster interpretation of the fairy tale "The Three Bears" is often erroneously credited to "anonymous" and re-titled "Three Bears Rap", "Three Bears with a Beat", etc. This song was first recorded by the Page Cavanaugh Trio and later by Western Swing bandleader Leon McAuliffe.
Circa 1969 Troup collaborated with entertainer Tommy Leonetti, penning the lyrics for Leonetti's song "My City of Sydney". Leonetti's original recording was used for many years in the close-down sequence for TV station ATN-7 in Sydney, and was also covered by Sydney punk band XL Capris.
In February 1999, Troup died at UCLA Medical Center of a massive heart attack; he was buried at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in the Hollywood Hills. His wife, Julie London died the following year, and her cremated remains were placed in the columbarium (Columbarium of Providence) niche, next to his.

In the mid-1950s, Troup was one of three regular panelists (along with Mel Blanc and Johnny Mercer) in the game show Musical Chairs, a Bill Leyden-hosted quiz program that aired locally on Los Angeles television for two years before NBC broadcast it in the summer of 1955. On the program, the viewing audience was encouraged to submit questions about music in an effort to stump the panel. The Troup Group provided much of the music in the game show. He also served as host of the ABC show Stars of Jazz featuring various jazz luminaries, particularly those working in Hollywood.
While he relied on songwriting royalties, Troup also worked as an actor, playing musician Tommy Dorsey in the film The Gene Krupa Story (1959). He played himself in the short-lived NBC television series Acapulco. Troup made three guest appearances on Perry Mason, and on two appearances, "The Case of the Jaded Joker" in 1959 and "The Case of the Missing Melody" in 1961, he showed his musical talents. In 1969 and 1970, he appeared as "Bobby" in two episodes of Mannix, where he was a lounge piano player who helped Mannix unravel cases. He again appeared as a piano player in a cameo on The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries in 1978.
In Robert Altman's 1970 film M*A*S*H he had a memorable cameo as a disgruntled staff sergeant assigned to driving Hawkeye and Trapper John around in Japan. (His only line of dialogue is a repeated exasperation, "Goddamn army!") In 1972, Jack Webb, who had previously used Troup in a 1967 episode of the television series Dragnet, cast him opposite Julie London in the US TV series Emergency!. Emergency! was created by Webb, who had recently starred in a revival of Dragnet and was producing NBC's popular Adam-12. London and Troup had remained on cordial terms with Webb, who had used Troup (and his daughter Ronne) in episodes of Adam-12 as well as the revived Dragnet. On Emergency! Troup played Dr. Joe Early, one of the two emergency room doctors featured on the series, while London played head nurse Dixie McCall.

Lemon Twist
Bobby Troup Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Here is a word to the wise
The top dietitians in town insist
The best source of vitamin C there can be
Is a lemon twist

Even a skeptic replies
That here's a suggestion you can't resist
A cool drink with ice is improved

With some slices of lemon twist

It isn't merely circumstantial evidence
That the lemon is a highly healthful citrus fruit
The most respected scientists agree with the physiologists
That here's one fact you can't dispute

Why don't you open your eyes
Your psychosomatic ills won't persist
If quick like a rabbit
You latch to the habit of lemon twist

Here is a word to the wise
The top dietitians in town insist
The best source of vitamin C there can be
Is a lemon twist

Even a skeptic replies
That here's a suggestion you can't resist, no
A cool drink with ice is improved
With some slices of lemon twist

Oh, it isn't merely circumstantial evidence
That the lemon is a highly healthful citrus fruit
The most respected scientists agree with the physiologists
That here's one fact you can't dispute

Why don't you open your eyes
Your psychosomatic ills won't persist, here we go

If quick like a rabbit
You latch to the habit of lemon twist

Overall Meaning

The song "Lemon Twist" by Bobby Troup is a playful ode to the health benefits of lemons. The lyrics begin with a word of advice from the top dietitians in town, who insist that lemons are the best source of vitamin C. Even skeptics can't resist the suggestion of adding some lemon slices to their drinks. The song goes on to cite scientific evidence that lemons are a highly healthful citrus fruit, and encourages listeners to develop the habit of incorporating lemon twists into their diets in order to prevent psychosomatic ills.

The tone of the song is light and whimsical, with a catchy melody and playful lyrics. The repetition of the phrase "lemon twist" throughout the song adds to its memorable quality. The lyrics point out that lemons are a healthy food choice, encouraging listeners to be mindful of their nutritional intake. However, the song doesn't take itself too seriously, and seems to be more focused on having fun with the idea of a lemon twist.

Overall, "Lemon Twist" is a lighthearted and catchy song that encourages listeners to consider the health benefits of lemons. Its playful lyrics and upbeat melody make it an enjoyable listen, while its message of nutritional mindfulness adds a bit of depth to its subject matter.

Line by Line Meaning

Here is a word to the wise
Listen closely to this valuable advice

The top dietitians in town insist
Those who specialize in nutrition strongly recommend

The best source of vitamin C there can be
Nothing compares to the amount of vitamin C found in

Is a lemon twist
A slice of lemon added for flavor and health benefits

Even a skeptic replies
Even someone who doubts agrees that

That here's a suggestion you can't resist
This is such a good idea that you'll be compelled to try it

A cool drink with ice is improved
Adding

With some slices of lemon twist
lemon slices for a twist of flavor makes it even better

It isn't merely circumstantial evidence
This is not just a coincidence

That the lemon is a highly healthful citrus fruit
Lemons are very good for you

The most respected scientists agree with the physiologists
Experts in various fields of science all concur