Bobby Troup is not a household name. It’s quite possible he never truly was. If you do know about him it is likely that you grew up in the 70s and watched the television show Emergency. He played Dr. Joe Early opposite his wife, Julie London, who played Nurse Dixie McCall. You certainly know one of the songs he wrote: Route 66. He wrote much more than one of the most popular songs in the world. And it is precisely that music that Mark Winkler shares on his new CD, I’m With You: Mark Winkler Sings Bobby Troup. He will be performing selections from the album on Friday night at Feinstein’s At Vitello’s in Studio City.
This is not Winkler’s first album of Bobby Troup songs. Mark Winkler Sings Bobby Troup was his first celebration of Troup’s music. So when we spoke by phone recently we discussed his passion for Troup and his music, how that passion began and how singing his music makes him feel cool.
Seventeen years ago you released your first album of Troup’s songs. How has your relationship with his music changed over the years?
Well I think how it’s changed is I realized that I will be forever doing Bobby Troup songs. He’s been a part of my life and people like me doing that. I’ve always done his songs in every set since the [first] record came out. When I did the first record it was more I discovered Troup and now I know the whole catalog.
How and when did your appreciation of Bobby Troup begin?
My mom was a singer with big bands and even though she got married and gave up her career, she never really did. I grew up hearing about all these people. I knew about Bobby Troup and that he wrote Route 66 and he was married to Julie London and produced Cry Me a River.
When I got signed to my first label, they re-released a lot of Bobby Troup on Capitol Records and they gave me them. I listened and don’t remember one thing about them. In 2002 I picked up an album called The Feeling of Jazz while I was looking for tunes to supplement my originals. I fell in love with so many songs on that record. So I decided to record a whole record.
Why does Route 66 resonate with artists as diverse as Nat “King” Cole, Chuck Berry and The Rolling Stones?
It’s got great bones. There’s not one bad line in the song. It’s blues, so it’s got the blues changes. It’s got a really great lyric and a good concept. It’s hard to mess it up.
Do you think he was a better singer or songwriter?
Songwriter. He didn’t have much of a voice. I like his voice and in some ways we have that speaking/singing thing we both do, but I think he was more of a songwriter who sang – in the style of Johnny Mercer. I think his songwriting is incredible.
His output as a songwriter was rather limited. Was there just a limited time i his life when he was writing songs? Or is there a trunk somewhere with unknown compositions?
I got the trunk. That’s what got me doing this new album. His daughters presented me with a boxful of sheet music. Some of it I knew, but some of it I didn’t. Then they presented me with a book they had collected of his music and a lot of that I didn’t know.
He wrote pretty consistently in the 40s, 50s and 60s. But when the Beatles came, music changed.
So few people know who Bobby Troup was. What would you tell them is a good reason why Bobby Troup should still be relevant today.
He writes really good. His melodies are really good. His lyrics are fresh. I think he’s a bridge between the Great American Songbook and people like Leiber and Stoller. [They were songwriters who wrote for Elvis Presley amongst others and were responsible for such songs as Hound Dog and Jailhouse Rock.] His songwriting was quirky. He didn’t quite follow all the rules. In these dark times it’s refreshing to hear his songs. They are funny and light and entertaining…and emotional.
Given your passion for these songs, do you ever think about whether you were born too late?
I never thought about that. I think I was born too late. I do. I’m glad I was born when I was because I’m gay and Jewish and that wouldn’t have been so easy. In terms of the music, I do like 1953. It’s a great year. I would have dug that.
On your website you said when you were singing his material in 2002 you imagined yourself in a turtleneck holding a martini and that all is right with the world. What’s the image you have of yourself singing his songs today?
I haven’t changed much. He makes me feel cool. Since I’ve been singing Bobby Troup the adjectives most people use now are cool and swinging. I find it hilarious. I was the least cool guy in high school. It’s nice his music has leant me a cloak of coolness.
For tickets go here.
Photo of Mark Winkler and the box of sheet music courtesy of Mark Winkler.