Zapp Band Comes To The Rrazz Room 7/10

The Zapp Band, a funk group with a unique electronic sound, comes to The Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, SF for one night, July 10 at 10 PM. Tickets are $35- $40 and can be purchased at www.therrazzroom.com or directly through www.ticketweb.com or 866 468 3399.

One of the most underrated funk groups of the 1980s, Zapp revolutionized the computer pop of electro with their trademark vocoder talk boxes and bumping grooves, emulating the earthier side of Prince and Cameo. The family group, with brothers Roger, Lester, Larry, and Tony Troutman, grew up in Hamilton, OH, influenced by hometown heroes the Ohio Players as well as other funk groups. Tony was the first to begin recording, with an obscure single for Gram-O-Phon Records, "I Truly Love You," which scraped the R&B charts in 1976. Joined by his brothers (with Roger on vocals and guitar, Lester on drums, Larry on percussion, and himself contributing bass) and christened Zapp, the group played around the Midwest and gradually picked up backing vocalists and a horn section.. Known for hits such as "More Bounce to the Ounce", "Dance Floor, Part 1" and "Computer Love", the group was a partial source of inspiration to West Coast hip-hop and G-funk, which came out of the hand clapped-drum beat styled funk of Zapp's records. Roger's impressive use of the talk box was another reason for the group's impact and its success. By 1985's New Zapp IV U, the group had scored over four gold records and had become a top concert draw all around the world.

In the past two decades, Zapp, consisting of three of the Troutman brothers and other musicians, has had great popularity among low rider enthusiasts and the Chicano "Cholo" youth culture. Their tracks are still being used today, without remix or any alterations and are commonly danced to by pop performers. "More Bounce To The Ounce" stands out as the most used sample in Chicano rap and West Coast rap. Zapp continues to find massive success as a concert draw.

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