You wish you were half this hip. Here’s Bobby Troup performing his best-known composition, “(Get Your Kicks on) Route 66.”

If you were reared on ’70s television, you’ll probably recognize Bobby Troup as the actor who played Dr. Joe Early, the ER physician on the TV action drama Emergency! 

But decades before that, Troup had another entire career as a renowned jazz composer, arranger, and pianist. In 1946, he made his personal contribution to the great American songbook, which has since been covered by artists from Nat King Cole to the Rolling Stones.

If you ever plan to motor west,
travel my way, take the highway that is best
Get your kicks on Route 66.

A little more about Troup: Along with being an accomplished musician and the star of a hit TV drama, he had a degree in economics from the Wharton School. Oh, and the beautiful actress who played nurse Dixie McCall on the television show? She was Troup’s real-life wife of 40 years, Julie London, a famed jazz singer in her own right. Known for the smoldering rendition of her signature song, Cry me a River, she was Billboard’s most popular female vocalist for three years running.

The performance of “Route 66” below is from the 1964 Japanese television special, The Julie London Show. And as you can see, Troup is cooler than the entire cast of Mad Men. Enjoy.