Dayton View Triangle in Montgomery County, Ohio — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Troutman Sound Labs
![Troutman Sound Labs Marker [Front] image. Click for full size.](Photos5/541/Photo541065.jpg?930202033100PM "Troutman Sound Labs Marker [Front]. Click for full size.")
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, September 29, 2020
1. Troutman Sound Labs Marker [Front]
"…this was the area that supported us, which made us…" --Roger Troutman (1951-1999). Hits by Roger and Zapp, such as "More Bounce to the Ounce" (1980) and the albums Zapp (1980), The Many Facets of Roger (1981), and Zapp II (1982) made Troutman Sound Labs possible. The studio was finished in 1983. The music produced here included the Gold-selling album New Zapp IV U (1985), Shirley Murdock's self-titled Gold album (1987), and Roger's "I Want to Be Your Man," which was #1 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip Hop chart and #3 on the Pop chart in late 1987.
Attesting to his lasting influence, Roger and Zapp's music has been sampled nearly 900 times and shaped the sound of West Coast Hip-Hop. Tupac Shakur's "Keep Ya Head Up" (1993) samples Zapp's "Computer Love" (1985), recorded here, as well as "Be Alright" (1980). Troutman's work on Dr. Dre and Shakur's 1995 "California Love" earned a Grammy nomination for best rap performance by a duo or group in 1997. The music made here lives on, although the building that housed Troutman Sound Labs was razed in 2004.
Erected
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Ohio Historical Society / The Ohio History Connection series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1980.
Location. 39° 46.938′ N, 84° 13.55′ W. Marker is in Dayton, Ohio, in Montgomery County. It is in Dayton View Triangle. Marker is at the intersection of Salem Avenue and Catalpa Drive, on the left when traveling north on Salem Avenue. Marker is in ZAPP Park, or Catalpa Gateway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2006 Salem Ave, Dayton OH 45406, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. United Theological Seminary (approx. 0.4 miles away); D-134 Artillery Memorial Bridge (approx. 1.2 miles away); Dayton Fire Department Station No. 14 (approx. 1.3 miles away); Site of First Game in the NFL (approx. 1.4 miles away); Triangle Park (approx. 1.4 miles away); Deeds Barn (approx. 1.4 miles away); In Honor of Don Bassett (approx. 1½ miles away); McCook Field (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Dayton.
![Troutman Sound Labs Marker [Reverse] image. Click for full size.](Photos5/541/Photo541066.jpg?930202033100PM "Troutman Sound Labs Marker [Reverse]. Click for full size.")
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, September 29, 2020
2. Troutman Sound Labs Marker [Reverse]
Photographed By Rev. Ronald Irick, September 29, 2020
3. Troutman Sound Labs Marker
Full view of marker is shown with "Sound Fountain"
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on September 30, 2020, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. This page has been viewed 327 times since then and 106 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on September 30, 2020, by Rev. Ronald Irick of West Liberty, Ohio. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
