Troop (band)
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Troop is an R&B group from from Pasadena, California. They set themselves apart from other groups with their harmony and explosive dance styles. The R&B group got its start in the late 80s after they won a televised talent contest that later drew interest from record labels and fans alike. Troop, consisting of childhood friends Steve Russell, Allen McNeil, John Harreld, Rodney Benford, and Reggie Warren, signed to Atlantic Records and released their debut single "Mamacita" from their self titled album in 1989. "Mamacita" reached #2 on the Billboard's R&B Charts and quickly established Troop as an influential R&B group.
Troop established a reputation as a group that combined high quality live singing with intricate dance routines. After the success of the debut album, Troop followed up with Attitude an album with the classic hit songs "Spread My Wings" and "All I Do is Think of You" (a Jackson 5 cover), which both climbed to #1 on the Billboard R&B charts and remained in the top 10 on the charts for weeks. Attitude was certified platinum in 1990, afterward, Troop released their third album Deepa in 1992 which the single "Sweet November" went straight to #1 on the Billboard's R&B charts as well. The group followed up with two more albums "A Lil Sumpin Sumpin" (1994) and "Mayday" (1998), both were re-released in 2005.
After releasing "Mayday" in 1998, Troop took a hiatus as individual members worked behind the scenes on various writing and producing projects, collaborations, and other business endeavors. Troop became well known over the years for their live performances which landed them as headliners of world wide tours as well as the opportunity to tour with other fellow national recording artists.
In 2004 Troop returned to the scene as a unit and immediately began touring across the United States and finishing up their sixth album. The group has also been promoting its new single "Thizzle". Since returning, Troop has headlined a number of shows and also shared the stage with many industry veterans that they also toured with in the past such as Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, Keith Sweat, Silk, Mario, and Jon B. to name a few. Troop has had four number one singles and ten top ten singles on the Billboard R&B Charts. They have also completed five albums, which include three certified gold and one certified platinum album.
Troop has also been showcased on The Late Show with David Letterman, Soul Train, The Arsenio Hall Show, Showtime at the Apollo, and appeared in the feature film New Jack City singing a cappella in addition to recording on the soundtrack title song along with Queen Latifah and Levert.
In October 2006, Troop contacted the Internet Radio Station (The Mixx) (http://www.themixxradio.com) and have worked together to make The Mixx the radio home of Troop. Steve Russell dubs the singing voices of several minor characters (among them doo-wop singer Little Albert and the five brothers who make up the Jackson 5 pastiche "The Campbell Connection") in the 2006 film version of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls.
