Troop (band)

Troop is an American R&B group from Pasadena, California, United States. The group has had three number-one singles and ten top-ten singles on the ''Billboard'' R&B Singles chart. They have also completed five albums, which include three certified gold and one certified platinum album. TROOP is an acronym for "Total Respect of Other People". The group is most notable for a series of number-one R&B hits, including popular cover versions of the songs "All I Do Is Think of You" and " Sweet November", originally performed by musical acts the Jackson 5 and the Deele, respectively. They also had a number-one hit with the original song "Spread My Wings".

Career

The group got its start in the late 1980s after they won a televised ''Puttin' on the Hits'' talent contest that later drew interest from record labels. Troop, consisting of childhood friends Steve Russell, Allen McNeil, John Harreld, Rodney Benford, and Reggie Warren, soon signed to Atlantic Records and released their debut single "Mamacita" from their self-titled debut album in 1988. "Mamacita" reached Number 2 on the Billboard's R&B Chart.

Troop's second album ''Attitude'' included the hit singles "Spread My Wings" and "All I Do Is Think of You" (a Jackson 5 cover), which were both number one on the Billboard R&B singles chart, and remained in the top 10 for several weeks. ''Attitude'' was certified platinum in 1990. Their third album ''Deepa'' was released in 1992, from which the single "Sweet November" made number one on the Billboard R&B singles chart. The group followed up ''Deepa'' with two more albums, ''A Lil' Sumpin' Sumpin (1994) and ''Mayday'' (1998), both of which were re-released in 2005.

After the release of ''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.

In 2004 Troop regrouped and began touring the United States and finishing up their sixth album. Since returning, Troop has headlined a number of shows and also shared the stage with artists they had toured with in the past, such as Boyz II Men, Brian McKnight, Keith Sweat, Silk, Mario, and Jon B.

Troop have also been showcased on ''The Late Show with David Letterman'', ''Soul Train'', ''The Arsenio Hall Show'', ''It's Showtime at the Apollo'', and appeared in the feature film ''New Jack City'' singing a cappella. Additionally, the group appeared on the ''New Jack City'' soundtrack with Queen Latifah and Levert, in a medley featuring cover versions of the O'Jays' "For the Love of Money" and Stevie Wonder's "Living for the City".

In October 2006, Troop contacted the internet radio station The Mixx and have worked together to make The Mixx the radio home of Troop. 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''. Steve Russell also wrote "Take You Down" for Chris Brown, "No Air" for Jordin Sparks, and the Grammy Award-winning "Invisible" for Jennifer Hudson. In February, 2010 he released his debut solo CD titled ''So Random'', which is the first release from his own label Motel Music Media. Allen McNeil released his debut solo album ''Hybernation'' in January, 2010. Allen McNeil released his sophomore solo album ''Send For Me'' in November, 2011. In addition to releasing music, Allen McNeil is said to have been auditioning for acting roles and accepting scripts. In 2014, John "Jon Jon" Harreld announced that he would be working on a solo project, and released a single covering Luther Vandross' " Never Too Much", which should also appear on the project.

Reggie Warren died on March 14, 2021, after an extended illness. He was 52.

Discography

Studio albums

Singles

Featured singles

References

External links

Jon Jon's Official Website

Steven Russell Website

TROOP's Official MySpace Page

Allen McNeil aka Mr. AL MAC Website

AL MAC Send For Me Album
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Troop
African-American musical groups
American contemporary R&B musical groups
American boy bands
New jack swing music groups
Atlantic Records artists