We all know Roger played an intricate role in the talkbox wtih R&B music, but my question is...how exactly does the instrument work.

Case-in-point, I was watching a performance of Stevie Wonder back in '72 when he was experimenting with the instrument during his live set and noticed that in between breaks of his phrases, he could talk into the mic with his regular speaking voice with the tube still in his mouth. Also, when he was going into another song, he took the tube out and stuck it directly into the mic which produced a sustained note. Forgive me if I've already confused half of ya'll.

So, does the instrument consist of a tube that blows out air and you sing or talk into it in sync with the notes you're playing?

I'm confused by it all too, but I found a Talkbox FAQ that does a pretty good job of explaining things.

RipHer2Shreds said:

"4. Keep the talkbox away from bandmates and roadies. They'll naturally want to experiment with it. Unless you're on intimate terms with them, do you really want to be sharing saliva (or other bodily fluids) this way?"

RipHer2Shreds said:

Thanks!

wow! I was just looking up the lyrics to "I Wanna Be Your Man" by Zapp and Rodger and now this! What a co-inky-dink!

mochalox said:

*sigh* Those were the days. I used to listen to a lot of R&B radio when I was a teenager (Foxy 99 in Fayetteville, NC ) back before R&B radio didn't suck, and I remember hearing this song all the time! Memories...

I had to post this excerpt from an article I found:
(the bolded titles are the ones I actually remember, the rest are a blur)

TOP 20 DOPEST TALKBOX SONGS

1. Zapp and Roger - More Bounce to the Ounce - You know this song because it is a rollerskating classic. It brings back memories of asses shakin' and those black speed skates that I never had because I was too broke. I hated being the kid who was always stuck with those stankin' ass brown rentals, but when you don't have a choice there's nothing you can do. On a side note, Strictnine had the speed skates but he had a hole in the toe of his and you could see his toes because he didn't wear any socks. Back to the matter at hand, More Bounce To The Ounce will always be one of the dopest talkbox songs ever because it bounces and brings that funk that no other song has ever been able to duplicate.

2. Zapp and Roger - Computer Love - Computerized to the fullest. This cut was so far ahead of its time that people still aren't hip to it. Not only did it combine the Talkbox with computer terminology, but it threw in love to seal it all up. I'm waiting for the first big dot com advertising campaign to use this song. When they finally do, they'd better be prepared to write a big fat check to the Troutman family.

3. DJ Quik - Roger’s Groove - DJ Quik could very well be the musician to carry the talkbox torch into the future. He doesn’t play around when it comes to using the instrument to its fullest. Of course, he’s no Roger Troutman, but his talkbox usage is clean, clear, and it rides with the music well. Look out for Quik and the talkbox in the next couple of years…I’m sure he’s going to drop a few bombs on us soon.

4. Dre and Tupac (w/ Roger) - California Love - The talkbox on this was tight and Roger came off like a champ. He’s performing overdubs in the background, as well as the choruses, and basically making this song the hit that it was. Roger rules the talkbox and the planet earth.

5. Rufus feat. Chaka Khan - Tell Me Something Good - Chaka Khan is one of the greatest singers of our time. If you’re not familiar with her work, I would suggest that you go to Warner Brothers Records and jack them for her complete discography like I did the other day. As far as the talkbox on this song, It’s not much, but it’s a perfect compliment to Chaka and the background singing.

6. Blackstreet - Don’t Leave Me - Teddy Riley brings the heat on this joint. This song got me crazy amounts of love back in school, so biggup Teddy. As for his Talkbox work, his delivery is super crisp and clean. He is definitely in the running for the talkbox title inheritance. I would really like to see him and DJ Quick battle for the title.

7. Peter Frampton - Do You Feel Like We Do (Live) - He’s the original talkbox star and he does his thing very well. I can remember seeing his live album in my aunt’s bedroom when I was little and just looking at it for hours for no reason at all. In hindsight, I think I was just sensing the talkbox on that vinyl.

8. Eric Onasis feat. Def Squad, Xzibit, DJ Quik - Focus - The E double has brought the heat using the Talkbox (and vocoder) on many occasions. Even though this is the only Eric Sermon cut on my list, I would suggest listening to all of his records in depth if you get the chance to. He uses crazy samples and makes his own brand of funk that is often overlooked today. Real talent is what he has.

9. Eagles - Those Shoes - Hey…these guys stole the High Plains Drifter beat and made a song about shoes? The talkbox on this is decent in parts and it goes well with the feeling of the song. Throw this in the mix at your next party and I guarantee your old hippy neighbors will come out to play.

10. Shirley Murdock w/ Roger - Chocolate City - Standard Roger on this grooved-out, slow, soul filled funk cut. If you’re a rider, this song followed by ATL’s “Black Superman” would be a great way to launch a Sunday Crenshaw flossin’ session. Ride on playa.

11. Keith Sweat feat. Roger - Put Your Lovin’ Through the Test - To me, Keith Sweat always sounds like a singing frog. On this one Roger gets nice in a ballad type way, but Keith on the other hand, still sounds like a singing frog.

12. H-Town - Thin Line Between Love and Hate - Roger produced this remake of the classic hit and it turned out as well as a remake of a classic can. The song has a crisp electronic sound and those guys from H-Town were down with Luke and Roger…can’t be that bad...or can it?

13. Peter Frampton - Show Me the Way (Live) - Frampton does it again. Not only does he have the biggest selling live record of all time, but he’s using a talkbox to spread his music…you’ve gotta love that. He's supposed to have his own talkbox coming out soon, called the Framptone.

14. Kool Keith w/ Roger - Master of the Game - Kool Keith had me won over on “Sly We Fly” when he said “We fly the planes ourselves. Black Elvis rocks the mic with somewhat of a southern choppy style on this one while Roger belts out the chorus in praise of Keith, “The Master of the Game.”

15. Above The Law - Black Superman - It’s hard to tell if this is a talkbox or a vocoder. I want to believe it’s a talkbox and that it fits in this article, but if it’s not...it doesn’t really matter to me because I’m still going to put it on my list. If it’s a vocoder..it’s one of the finest vocoder gangsta hits ever made. If it’s a Talkbox, it’s time to make a new 2001 version of this song.

16. Johnny Gill feat. Roger - It’s Your Body - Standard R&B flave with Roger in the background helping out Johnny with his trusty talkbox. Put this on, dim the lights, and get down to it with your lady. Interesting Note: Roger says Computer Love on this and like every other song he ever made.

17. Aerosmith - Sweet Emotion - Steven Tyler has some big ass lips. He could probably swallow a Talkbox. This is a cut for the pool halls of America…and something that bikers everywhere can be proud of. God Bless America and Aerosmith with a talkbox.

18. Joe Walsh - Rocky Mountain Way - This song makes me feel like tossing back a little Henny and going for a drive in the country. Nothing wrong with a bumpin’ a bluesy, country, guitar cut like this every couple of years.

19. Nazareth - Hair of the Dog - Woah… “Now you’re messing with a son of a bitch” is the hook. This song is rocking and then some Guitar Center salesman comes in singing, or actually barking, on the talkbox.

20. Jeff Beck - She’s a Woman - This is a talkbox joint for your mom to smoke to in her station wagon. It’s super mellow with a twist of country funk added. Get ya flame on... Mom!

Honorable Mention. Beastie Boys - Something's Got to Give (Live) - Ian remembered seeing some tube wrap all the way up Adrock's mic stand on the 1998 tour, went through his whole video to find the song it was used on, made an audio file for this site, and then realized he already had an mp3 of it in the GR Radio database. The moral of the story is: Adrock used a talkbox to perform Something's Got to Give live, and it sounded dope.

-excerpt taken from: http://www.headcrack.com/...php?c=talk

Too funny! Roger was definitely the king of the talkbox. And he did it without making it seem gimmicky.

mochalox said:

You mean to tell me they did not mention DeVante Swing ?! I don't believe it!

"Can U Get Wit It" (performed by Usher)
"Part Time Lover" (performed by H-Town)
"Feenin'"
"Freak N' You"
"Feel Of Your Lips" (perormed by Sista, Mary J. Blige and K-Ci)

What a shame!

I didn't even think of those!

mochalox said:

U 4got or did'nt know about a group that i'm associated with called MICOWAVE! Checkout the songs called "Misunderstood and Instant Replay" then do your list. Both songs were top 10 R&B back in 86/87 and "Instant Replay" did make the Top 40!
[This message was edited Fri Jul 9 15:30:36 2004 by ELBOOGY]

FunkMistress said:

Roger's talkbox vocals r awesome!, I would say the best Roger & Zapp songs which feature Roger on Talkbox r:

I Heard It Through The Grapevine
Dancefloor
Heartbreaker
I Can Make U Dance
In The Mix
Doesn't Really Matter
Computer Love
I Wanna Be Your Man
Ooh Baby Baby
More Bounce 2 The Ounce
I Only Have Eyes 4 U
A Thin Line Between Love & Hate (H-Town featuring Roger & Shirley Murdock)
Computer Love
Funky Bounce
Doo Wa Dittyy

amongst many others!

you're killin me with this thread

roger knew how 2 bring the heat

with that talkbox and sensational beats

computer love

doo wa dittyy

i wanna be your man,

classic jams

miss me some roger troutman

sumtymes said:

How?

okaypimpn said:

That's the sense I got, But I know that ,according to Herbie Hancock with the vocoder( the keyboard version of the talkbox), you can't really sing --not using an up and down scale --you have to use a monotone voice when you "talk" into it,, and play the keyboard, letting the keys dictate the notes and the pitch. he noted that this is hard at first, because you're natural instict is to want to sing in a regular voice, but you've got to keep the monotone....
[This message was edited Mon Jul 12 7:06:17 2004 by paligap]

paligap said:

Wow...that's really interesting. So I'm assuming monotone as in the voice of Vickie (that robot girl from the 80s sitcom "Small Wonder"? ) Or monotone as in regular talking voice?

okaypimpn said:

yeah, like the robot voice--- no pitch, no inflections, just straight and flat...and let the keyboard add the melody and pitch to it...
[This message was edited Mon Jul 12 8:05:31 2004 by paligap]

okaypimpn said:

Dee used a vocoder...not the same thing.

Adisa said:

No, in those songs, DeVante used a talkbox. A vocoder would be what Herbie Hancock used in "Rocket."

okaypimpn said:

Uh not really sure that's true. I still have a tape with Roger on "Video Soul" with Donnie Simpson. He was showing how the talkbox worked. He was saying how he played around with actually singing into the talkox and that's how "Computer Love" was born. The talkbox is nothing more than a keyboard with a clear tube that comes out of it. The keys control the pitch as it's talked or sang into. Really interesting show. Glad I kept a lot of those old tapes.

okaypimpn said:

Check the liner notes in "Diary of a Mad Band". Also, my ears have heard enuff of the two to know the difference.

Roger & one his brothers made the 'Talkbox' that Roger used. So there4 its almost impossible 2 emulate the exact sound Roger used. Teddy Riley is the only artist who has almost emulated the sound but again Roger's Talkbox vocals r unique, which is why he wrote the song 'I Play The Talkbox'!.

I would like some1 2 explain how the Talkbox actually works and how it differs from the Vocoder. I found this about the vocoder, so check it out:

http://www.retrofuture.com/vocoder.html

The talkbox is referred 2 as the one used by guitarists like Peter Frampton, but there is also the one which works with a keyboard/synth used by Stevie, Herbie Hancock and the one which Roger used.

Anymore info on the Talkbox (ie the one which works with a synth/keyboard) would b cool

intha916 said:

Yeah, I was just talking about the vocoder, not his specific talkbox...

okaypimpn said:

meaning,

u took me back

2 some good memories

but, it's bitter sweet

since roger is no longer

physically with us

however, his songs are so

creative that it seems as if

he's still among us