Greg Trooper
Greg Trooper | |
|---|---|
| Born | Template:Birth date Neptune Township, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Died | January 15, 2017 (aged 61) |
| Occupation | Singer-songwriter |
| Years active | 1970s–2017 |
| Known for | Songwriting; compositions recorded by Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, Vince Gill |
Greg Trooper (January 13, 1956 – January 15, 2017) was a notable American singer-songwriter whose compositions were recorded by prominent musicians such as Steve Earle, Billy Bragg, and Vince Gill.
History
Originating from Neptune Township, New Jersey and raised in nearby Little Silver, Trooper became deeply involved in the Greenwich Village folk music movement in the early 1970s. After moving to Austin, Texas in 1976 and subsequently enrolling at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, he honed his abilities in guitar playing, vocal performance, and songwriting.
During the 1980s and early 1990s in New York City, Trooper established The Greg Trooper Band alongside Larry Campbell (guitar), Greg Shirley (bass), and Walter Thomson (drums). His initial two albums were released during this period: We Won't Dance (1986) under Wild Twin Records and the critically praised Everywhere, produced by Stewart Lerman. The title track from Everywhere was later interpreted by Billy Bragg on his 1991 album Don't Try This at Home. Trooper secured a songwriting contract with CBS Songs through Earl Shuman. His compositions garnered interest from artists like Steve Earle—who recorded "Little Sister"—and Vince Gill, who included "We Won't Dance" on his 1989 album When I Call Your Name.
In the early 1990s, Trooper collaborated with fellow New Jersey native and E Street Band bassist Garry Tallent. Tallent produced Trooper's 1996 release Noises in the Hallway, issued on Tallent's D'Ville Record Group. This was succeeded by Popular Demons (1998) on Koch Records, produced by Buddy Miller. Subsequently, Trooper signed with Nashville-based independent label Eminent Records for his album Straight Down Rain (2001).
His debut live recording, Between A House and a Hard Place – Live at Pine Hill Farm (2002), was produced by Eric "Roscoe" Ambel. After joining Sugar Hill Records in 2003, he released Floating, followed by Make It Through This World (2005), produced by Dan Penn, and another live album titled Back Shop Live (2006).
Returning to New York City in 2008, Trooper issued the previously unreleased 1995 session The Williamsburg Affair in 2009. He continued his output with Upside-Down Town (2011) and Incident on Willow Street (2013), both distributed via 52 Shakes Records. The latter work delved into themes of self-discovery and breaking free from inertia.
Trooper passed away due to pancreatic cancer on January 15, 2017, just two days after celebrating his 61st birthday.
Discography
- We Won't Dance (as The Greg Trooper Band) (1986)
- Everywhere (1992)
- Noises in the Hallway (1996)
- Popular Demons (1998)
- Straight Down Rain (2001)
- Between A House and a Hard Place: Live At Pine Hill Farm (2002)
- Floating (2003)
- Make It Through This World (2005)
- The BackShop Live (2006)
- The Williamsburg Affair (2009)
- Upside-Down Town (2010)
- Incident On Willow Street (2013)
- Live at the Rock Room (2015)