The Troutman Brothers Larry,Lester,Roger & Terry who formed Zapp grew up in Hamilton, Ohio a small town near Dayton. The four brothers began playing music at an early age and made a name for themselves under the name Roger and The Human Body. In the late 70s they were discovered by funk legend Bootsy Collins. Bootsy and his fellow bandmate “Dr. Funkenstein” George Clinton helped get the group a deal with Warner Bros. Records. Once signed they changed their name from The Human Body to Zapp. Their first single “More Bounce to the Ounce” shot to # 2 on the soul singles charts in the fall of 1980, it would be the first of many hits. Roger along with his brothers and the other members of Zapp went on to dominate the 80s with their revolutionary and unique sound with hits like “Computer Love”,”I Want to be Your Man”, “Doo Wa Ditty” and many others. By the 90s Zapp’s light had started to fade but not Roger’s. For most of the decade Roger was busy collaborating with artists such as H-Town, 2Pac, Dr. Dre, Tech N9ne and Sounds of Blackness. It seemed as though everyone wanted to work with Roger and only Roger, some including Larry’s daughter said this may have upset Larry because for the better part of three decades he had been his little brother’s hype man.
On April 25, 1999 Roger was found in an alley behind his recording studio bleeding to death from multiple gunshot wounds and just a few blocks away Larry committed suicide with the same gun he’d used to kill his younger brother.
Just four years later Roger’s son Roger Troutman II (also known as Lynch) suffered a serious head injury that led to him being in coma. He died on January 3, 2003 at the young age of 33.
In 2012 Roger’s other son Brent Lynch was arrested for the murder of his ex-girlfriend, Carolyn Leete. He is now serving 32 years in prison.
Fast forward to January 1, 2020 and the Troutmans were hit with another tragedy when Alexis Alijai Lynch (Roger Troutman II’s daughter) was found dead in a hotel room from an accidental drug overdose. Alexis best known as Lexii Alijai was only 21 years old.
The Troutmans have experienced heartbreak and tragedy over the years but their legacy has been cemented as one of the greatest musical families of all time.
My he rip and I also hope that guy dies in prison now