Bobby Troup
He turned a highway into a timeless anthem for the open road, then swapped the piano for a stethoscope on a hit TV show.
1918–1999 (age 81)·American actor and musician·Birthday: October 18·The Greatest Generation
Biography
Bobby Troup was a man who lived his life in the key of cool. A Philadelphia native and Marine Corps veteran, he first made his mark not in Hollywood but in the jazz clubs and on the radio, where his smooth piano playing and laid-back vocal style caught attention. His defining moment came during a cross-country drive to Los Angeles in 1946, when the rhythm of the road inspired him to write '(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.' The song, later immortalized by Nat King Cole, became an American standard. Troup's second act was on screen, where he became a familiar face in films and, most notably, as the calm, competent Dr. Joe Early on the 1970s drama 'Emergency!'—acting opposite his real-life wife, singer Julie London. His career was a seamless blend of musical creativity and television charisma.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Bobby was born in 1918, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Bobby Was Born
The biggest hits of 1918
Bobby's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1918Born
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1923Started school
The Great Kanto earthquake devastates Tokyo
President: Calvin Coolidge"Yes! We Have No Bananas" — Billy Jones
1931Became a teenager
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1934Could drive
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Stars Fell on Alabama" — Jack TeagardenBest Picture: It Happened One Night
1936Could vote
Jesse Owens wins four golds at the Berlin Olympics
Gas: $0.19/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"The Way You Look Tonight" — Fred AstaireBest Picture: The Great Ziegfeld
1939Turned 21
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1948Turned 30
Israel declares independence; Berlin Blockade begins
Gas: $0.26/galHome: $7,450Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Twelfth Street Rag" — Pee Wee HuntBest Picture: Hamlet
1958Turned 40
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1968Turned 50
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1978Turned 60
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1988Turned 70
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 80
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
1999Died at 81
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
Key Achievements
- Wrote the classic American road trip anthem '(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66,' recorded by artists like Nat King Cole and The Rolling Stones.
- Portrayed Dr. Joe Early for the entire run of the hit television series 'Emergency!' (1972–1977).
- Had a successful career as a jazz pianist and recording artist, releasing albums on labels like Capitol and Liberty.
Did You Know?
He served as a captain in the United States Marine Corps during World War II.
His wife, singer and actress Julie London, performed the sultry theme song for 'Emergency!'
He was a regular panelist on the television game show 'Musical Chairs' in the mid-1970s.
“If you ever plan to motor west, take my way, that's the highway that's the best.”
