Troop (band)
Encyclopedia
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Troop is an R&B group from Pasadena, California
. TROOP has had three number one singles and ten top ten singles on the Billboard R&B Charts. They have also completed five albums, which include three certified gold and one certified platinum
album. TROOP is an acronym for "Total Respect Of Other People".
) talent contest that later drew interest from record label
s. Troop, consisting of childhood friends Steve Russell, Allen McNeil, John Harreld, Rodney Benford, and Reggie Warren, signed to Atlantic Records
and released their debut single Mamacita from their self titled album in 1988. Mamacita reached Number 2 on the Billboard's R&B Charts
.
After the release of their debut album, Troop released Attitude, which included songs such as Spread My Wings
and All I Do is Think of You
(a Jackson 5 cover), which were both Number 1 on the Billboard R&B charts and remained in the top 10 on the charts for several weeks. Attitude was certified platinum in 1990, afterward, Troop released their third album Deepa in 1992 from which the single Sweet November made Number 1 on the Billboard's R&B charts. The group followed up with two more albums A Lil' Sumpin' Sumpin (1994) and Mayday (1998), both of which were re-released in 2005.
After releasing Mayday in 1998, Troop took a hiatus as individual members worked behind the scenes on various writing
and producing
projects, collaborations, and other business endeavors.
In 2004 Troop returned and began touring the United States
and finishing up their sixth album. Since returning, Troop has headlined a number of shows and also shared the stage with artists they toured with in the past such as Boyz II Men
, Brian McKnight
, Keith Sweat
, Silk, Mario, and Jon B.
.
Troop have also been showcased on The Late Show with David Letterman, Soul Train
, The Arsenio Hall Show
, Showtime at the Apollo
, and appeared in the feature film New Jack City
singing a cappella. Additionally, the group appeared on the New Jack City soundtrack with Queen Latifah
and Levert
, in a medley featuring cover versions of The O'Jays
' For the Love of Money
and Stevie Wonder
's Living for the City
.
In October 2006, Troop contacted the Internet Radio Station The Mixx and have worked together to make The Mixx the radio home of Troop. Steve Russell dubs the singing voices of several minor characters (among them doo-wop singer Little Albert and the five brothers who make up the Jackson 5 pastiche "The Campbell Connection") in the 2006 film version of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls
. Steve Russell as also wrote Take You Down
for Chris Brown and No Air
for Jordin Sparks
, Grammy award winning Invisible for Jennifer Hudson
. In February 2010 he will be releasing his debut solo CD entitled, So Random which is the first release from his own label Motel Music Media. Allen McNeil released his debut solo album titled Hybernation, which is currently available in January 2010. Allen McNeil released his new sophmore solo album titled "Send For Me" in November 2011 & is already receiving a great response from fans. In addition to releasing music Allen McNeil has been bitten by the acting bug & is currently auditioning for roles & accepting scripts to read from Film/Tv producers
Troop is an R&B group from Pasadena, California
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. TROOP has had three number one singles and ten top ten singles on the Billboard R&B Charts. They have also completed five albums, which include three certified gold and one certified platinum
Platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the chemical symbol Pt and an atomic number of 78. Its name is derived from the Spanish term platina del Pinto, which is literally translated into "little silver of the Pinto River." It is a dense, malleable, ductile, precious, gray-white transition metal...
album. TROOP is an acronym for "Total Respect Of Other People".
Career
The group began in the late 1980s after they won a televised (Puttin' on the HitsPuttin' On the Hits
Puttin' on the Hits was an American syndicated music/variety competition show hosted by Allen Fawcett. The show featured amateur acts lip-synching to popular songs. The show aired on weekends from 1984 through 1988....
) talent contest that later drew interest from record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
s. Troop, consisting of childhood friends Steve Russell, Allen McNeil, John Harreld, Rodney Benford, and Reggie Warren, signed to Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
and released their debut single Mamacita from their self titled album in 1988. Mamacita reached Number 2 on the Billboard's R&B Charts
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs
Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,...
.
After the release of their debut album, Troop released Attitude, which included songs such as Spread My Wings
Spread My Wings
"Spread My Wings" is the title of a number-one R&B single by Troop. As the second single taken from the album Attitude, the song spent two weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart....
and All I Do is Think of You
All I Do Is Think of You
"All I Do Is Think of You" is a ballad single released by The Jackson 5 as the b-side to the group's single, "Forever Came Today" on the Motown label in 1975, and was the final charted single the group issued as The Jackson 5 before they left Motown for CBS the following year...
(a Jackson 5 cover), which were both Number 1 on the Billboard R&B charts and remained in the top 10 on the charts for several weeks. Attitude was certified platinum in 1990, afterward, Troop released their third album Deepa in 1992 from which the single Sweet November made Number 1 on the Billboard's R&B charts. The group followed up with two more albums A Lil' Sumpin' Sumpin (1994) and Mayday (1998), both of which were re-released in 2005.
After releasing Mayday in 1998, Troop took a hiatus as individual members worked behind the scenes on various writing
Writing
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
and producing
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
projects, collaborations, and other business endeavors.
In 2004 Troop returned and began touring the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and finishing up their sixth album. Since returning, Troop has headlined a number of shows and also shared the stage with artists they toured with in the past such as Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men
Boyz II Men is an American R&B vocal group best known for emotional ballads and a cappella harmonies. They are the most successful R&B group of all time, having sold more than albums worldwide. In the 1990s, Boyz II Men found fame on Motown Records as a quartet, but original member Michael McCary...
, Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight
Brian McKnight is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, producer, and R&B/Pop musician. He is a multi-instrumentalist who plays nine instruments: piano, guitar, bass guitar, drums, percussions, trombone, tuba, flugelhorn and trumpet....
, Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat
Keith Sweat is an American R&B/soul, singer-songwriter, record producer, radio personality and a major contributor to the new jack swing era.-Music career:...
, Silk, Mario, and Jon B.
Jon B.
Jon B. is a Grammy nominated American R&B singer and songwriter.-Early life:...
.
Troop have also been showcased on The Late Show with David Letterman, Soul Train
Soul Train
Soul Train is an American musical variety show that aired in syndication from October 1971 to March 2006. In its 35-year history, the show primarily featured performances by R&B, soul, and hip hop artists, although funk, jazz, disco, and gospel artists have also appeared.As a nod to Soul Trains...
, The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show
The Arsenio Hall Show is an American variety/talk show that aired late weeknights in syndication from January 3, 1989 to May 27, 1994. The show was created and hosted by comedian/actor Arsenio Hall.- Background :...
, Showtime at the Apollo
Showtime at the Apollo
Showtime at the Apollo is a syndicated music television show, first broadcast on September 12, 1987 to May 24, 2008 with 1093 episodes, and is produced by the Apollo Theater...
, and appeared in the feature film New Jack City
New Jack City
New Jack City is a 1991 crime film starring Wesley Snipes, Ice-T, Mario Van Peebles, Judd Nelson, and Chris Rock. Snipes stars as Nino Brown, a rising drug dealer and crime lord in New York City during the crack epidemic...
singing a cappella. Additionally, the group appeared on the New Jack City soundtrack with Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah
Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy...
and Levert
LeVert
LeVert is a R&B/pop music singing group, formed in Ohio in 1984, comprising Sean and Gerald Levert, the sons of O'Jays founder Eddie Levert, as well as Marc Gordon.-Biography:The group released their first single, "I'm Still", for Harry Coombes' Tempre label...
, in a medley featuring cover versions of The O'Jays
The O'Jays
The O'Jays are an American R&B group from Canton, Ohio, formed in 1963 and originally consisting of Eddie Levert , Walter Williams , William Powell , Bobby Massey and Bill Isles. The O'Jays were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame in 2004, and The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2005...
' For the Love of Money
For the Love of Money
"For the Love of Money" is a soul/funk song written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, and Anthony Jackson; and recorded by Philadelphia soul group The O'Jays for the album Ship Ahoy. Produced by Gamble and Huff for Philadelphia International Records, "For the Love of Money" was issued as a single in...
and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's Living for the City
Living for the City
"Living for the City" is a 1973 hit single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label, from his Innervisions album. Reaching #8 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #1 on the R&B chart, the record is driven by a slow bass synth groove that manages to exude a certain amount of tension, an appropriate...
.
In October 2006, Troop contacted the Internet Radio Station The Mixx and have worked together to make The Mixx the radio home of Troop. Steve Russell dubs the singing voices of several minor characters (among them doo-wop singer Little Albert and the five brothers who make up the Jackson 5 pastiche "The Campbell Connection") in the 2006 film version of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls
Dreamgirls (film)
Dreamgirls is a 2006 musical drama film, directed by Bill Condon and jointly produced and released by DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures. The film debuted in three special road show engagements beginning December 15, 2006 before its nationwide release on December 25, 2006...
. Steve Russell as also wrote Take You Down
Take You Down
"Take You Down" is the fourth single by Chris Brown from his second studio album Exclusive. It was released to urban radio stations only on April 1, 2008....
for Chris Brown and No Air
No Air
"No Air" is a song by American recording artist Jordin Sparks featuring American R&B singer Chris Brown. The song was written by James Fauntleroy II, Eric Griggs, Michael Scala, Harvey Mason, Jr., Damon Thomas and Steve Russell...
for Jordin Sparks
Jordin Sparks
Jordin Brianna Sparks is an American pop / R&B singer-songwriter and actress. She hails from Glendale, Arizona who rose to fame as the winner of the sixth season of American Idol. Sparks won when she was 17 years old, making her the youngest winner in Idol history...
, Grammy award winning Invisible for Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Hudson
Jennifer Kate Hudson is an American recording artist, actress and spokesperson. She came to prominence in 2004 as one of the finalists on the third season of American Idol coming in seventh place...
. In February 2010 he will be releasing his debut solo CD entitled, So Random which is the first release from his own label Motel Music Media. Allen McNeil released his debut solo album titled Hybernation, which is currently available in January 2010. Allen McNeil released his new sophmore solo album titled "Send For Me" in November 2011 & is already receiving a great response from fans. In addition to releasing music Allen McNeil has been bitten by the acting bug & is currently auditioning for roles & accepting scripts to read from Film/Tv producers
Albums
| Year | Information | Chart positions | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
|||
| 1988 1988 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1988.-January-March:* January 1 – André Rieu's Johann Strauss Orchestra plays its first concert.... |
TROOP TROOP (album) -Tracklisting:#Mamacita - 5:37#My Heart - 6:09#Still in Love - 5:08#Happy Relationship - 4:23...
|
Atlantic | ||
| 1989 1989 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1989.-Events:*January 14 – Paul McCartney releases Снова в СССР exclusively in the USSR... |
Attitude Attitude (TROOP album) -Tracklisting:# "My Music" — 4:24# "That's My Attitude" — 4:56# "I'm Not Soupped" — 4:23# "My Love" — 3:45# "Spread My Wings" — 5:08# "All I Do Is Think of You" — 4:54# "I Will Always Love You" — 5:06# "Another Lover" — 5:01# "For You" — 4:28... |
|||
| 1992 1992 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1992.-January–February:*January 11**Nirvana's Nevermind album goes to #1 in the US Billboard 200 chart, establishing the widespread popularity of the Grunge movement of the 1990s.... |
Deepa Deepa (TROOP album) -Tracklisting:# "Praise" - # "Keep You Next to Me" - # "She Blows My Mind" - # "I'm Not Gamin'" -... |
|||
| 1994 1994 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1994.-January–February:*January 25 – Alice in Chains release their Jar of Flies album which debuted at number one on the Billboard 200, becoming the first ever EP to do so.... |
A Lil' Sumpin' Sumpin' A Lil' Sumpin' Sumpin' A Lil' Sumpin' Sumpin' is the fourth studio album by new jack swing group Troop released by Bust It Records on July 22, 1994.-Tracklisting:# "Let's Get Warm" — 6:23# "Break a Dawn" — 5:42# "Poohnany " — 4:16# "Blowin' My Mind" — 4:48... |
|||
| 1998 1998 in music This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1998.-Events:*January 28 – "Weird Al" Yankovic gets LASIK surgery to cure his myopia... |
Mayday Mayday (TROOP album) Mayday' is the fifth studio album by new jack swing group Troop released by Warrior Records on June 16, 1998.-Standard edition:# "The Way I Parlay" —# "A Melody" —# "Round and Round" —# "Something About You" —# "Over the Moon" —... |
Warrior Records Warrior Records is an American record label established in 1998, distributed via Universal Music Distribution .- Roster :*100 Monkeys*Chad Smith's Bombastic Meatbats*Saints Of The Underground*Benny Mardones*Eddie Money*Troop*Rudy Ray Moore... |
Singles
| Year | Title | Chart positions | Album | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B | |||
| 1988 | "Mamacita" | - | 2 | TROOP TROOP (album) -Tracklisting:#Mamacita - 5:37#My Heart - 6:09#Still in Love - 5:08#Happy Relationship - 4:23... |
| "My Heart" | - | 9 | ||
| "Still in Love" | - | 19 | ||
| 1989 | "I'm Not Soupped" | - | 19 | Attitude Attitude (TROOP album) -Tracklisting:# "My Music" — 4:24# "That's My Attitude" — 4:56# "I'm Not Soupped" — 4:23# "My Love" — 3:45# "Spread My Wings" — 5:08# "All I Do Is Think of You" — 4:54# "I Will Always Love You" — 5:06# "Another Lover" — 5:01# "For You" — 4:28... |
| 1990 | "Spread My Wings Spread My Wings "Spread My Wings" is the title of a number-one R&B single by Troop. As the second single taken from the album Attitude, the song spent two weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart.... " |
47 | 1 | |
| "All I Do Is Think of You All I Do Is Think of You "All I Do Is Think of You" is a ballad single released by The Jackson 5 as the b-side to the group's single, "Forever Came Today" on the Motown label in 1975, and was the final charted single the group issued as The Jackson 5 before they left Motown for CBS the following year... " |
- | 1 | ||
| "That's My Attitude" | - | 14 | ||
| 1991 | "I Will Always Love You | - | 31 | |
| For the Love of Money For the Love of Money "For the Love of Money" is a soul/funk song written by Kenneth Gamble, Leon Huff, and Anthony Jackson; and recorded by Philadelphia soul group The O'Jays for the album Ship Ahoy. Produced by Gamble and Huff for Philadelphia International Records, "For the Love of Money" was issued as a single in... /Living for the City Living for the City "Living for the City" is a 1973 hit single by Stevie Wonder for the Tamla label, from his Innervisions album. Reaching #8 on the Billboard Pop Singles chart and #1 on the R&B chart, the record is driven by a slow bass synth groove that manages to exude a certain amount of tension, an appropriate... (with LeVert LeVert LeVert is a R&B/pop music singing group, formed in Ohio in 1984, comprising Sean and Gerald Levert, the sons of O'Jays founder Eddie Levert, as well as Marc Gordon.-Biography:The group released their first single, "I'm Still", for Harry Coombes' Tempre label... and Queen Latifah Queen Latifah Dana Elaine Owens , better known by her stage name Queen Latifah, is an American singer, rapper, and actress. Her work in music, film and television has earned her a Golden Globe award, two Screen Actors Guild Awards, two Image Awards, a Grammy Award, six additional Grammy nominations, an Emmy... ) |
- | 12 | New Jack City OST New Jack City (soundtrack) New Jack City is the original soundtrack to the 1991 film New Jack City released by Giant Records through Reprise Records and distributed by Warner Bros. Records. The soundtrack consists of eleven original songs, most of which were performed by chart-topping R&B and hip-hop artists of the time.... |
|
| 1992 | "Whatever It Takes (To Make You Stay)" | 63 | 12 | Deepa Deepa (TROOP album) -Tracklisting:# "Praise" - # "Keep You Next to Me" - # "She Blows My Mind" - # "I'm Not Gamin'" -... |
| "Sweet November" | 58 | 1 | ||
| 1994 | "Do Me" | - | 78 | A Lil' Sumpin' Sumpin' A Lil' Sumpin' Sumpin' A Lil' Sumpin' Sumpin' is the fourth studio album by new jack swing group Troop released by Bust It Records on July 22, 1994.-Tracklisting:# "Let's Get Warm" — 6:23# "Break a Dawn" — 5:42# "Poohnany " — 4:16# "Blowin' My Mind" — 4:48... |
| 1998 | "The Way I Parlay" | - | 65 | Mayday Mayday (TROOP album) Mayday' is the fifth studio album by new jack swing group Troop released by Warrior Records on June 16, 1998.-Standard edition:# "The Way I Parlay" —# "A Melody" —# "Round and Round" —# "Something About You" —# "Over the Moon" —... |