The Troups — “Motoring West” in America’s Heyday
In 1946, a young couple left Pennsylvania for Hollywood, where the husband hoped to make his mark as a songwriter. At one point during the journey, the wife suggested that he write something about Route 40. He rebuffed her on the ground that they would be spending far more time on a different highway — Route 66. After a pause, she replied, “Get your kicks on Route 66!” And with that, what is arguably the greatest road song of all time was born.
Here’s a performance by the author himself:
Bobby Troup came from a family that ran music stores in Harrisburg and Lancaster. Cynthia Troup (nee Hare) was a strong-willed girl from the Philadelphia Main Line who delighted in telling the boys at parties, “I’m only wearing (more…)