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Bobby Troup was a musician before becoming an actor on Emergency!
Bobby Troup's career hit a high note when he traded his piano for a TV set.
Before he helped save lives on Emergency!, Bobby Troup was saving souls with sweet tunes. As a pianist, composer, and singer for many years in Los Angeles, the switch to TV wasn’t exactly music to his ears at first.
In a 1975 interview with The Buffalo News, Troup said the jump from jazz clubs to dramatic television acting took some serious adjustment.
"After playing nightclubs for 27 years, it was difficult to adjust to working days," Troup said. "I was used to going to bed at five or six in the morning and sleeping all day."
When Emergency! first aired, Troup said he felt completely "topsy-turvy." Having spent years performing solo, in a trio, and in jazz clubs across the city, adjusting to life on one of the top-rated TV series of its time was a big change
He played Dr. Joe Early on Emergency!, a skilled anesthesiologist who worked in the ER. His character was well-liked among Emergency! fans for his kind, can-do attitude — the type of guy you felt would, and could, save you in a time of need.
One of his biggest reasons for switching to acting was the hope for a better lifestyle for himself and his family — including his wife, Julie London, who played the role of Dixie McCall on the series. Plus, he found it increasingly difficult to find gigs as a full-time musician.
But the main reason for the switch?
"It’s mainly because there are no clubs available here in Los Angeles for groups like mine, for my kind of music," Troup said.
According to the interview, Troup struggled to relate to the younger generation of musicians. His heart was with jazz, but the culture had shifted to loud rock n' roll, which was growing in popularity across generations. Troup struggled to keep up.
"My era has passed," Troup said. "I guess I could write music that would sell today, but that would mean compromise — and I don’t want to do that."
Though he switched tracks from music to acting, his legacy still plays on in both worlds. Some songs you may recognize include: "(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66", "Baby, Baby All the Time", and "The Girl Can’t Help It."
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