Zapp and Roger

Zapp & Roger may not roll off the tongue before names such as George Clinton, Bootsy Collins and Parliament, but they've proven just as influential as their better-known peers. Zapp and Roger were actually two different entities - the former a band, the latter a solo project - featuring Roger Troutman. Each outfit released albums during the 1980s, and tracks from both have been assembled on various collections attributed to Zapp & Roger in the 1990s. Troutman and company engaged audiences with a funky, synth-driven sound that was both timely and timeless, hitting with classics such as "More Bounce to the Ounce" and "Computer Love." The funkateer's energetic style made heavy use of his signature Talk Box and electro-funk grooves -- many of which were later sampled by the likes of Tupac Shakur, the Beastie Boys, Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg.