Nominated for 1 JUNO Award
Domenic Troiano is a musical renaissance man who has worn the hats of songwriter, performer and producer, in addition to scoring both television and movie properties. His musical versatility has allowed him to be an integral part of such groups as The Mandala, Bush, The James Gang and The Guess Who. Troiano has also enjoyed a solo recording career and released four albums of his own work.
Born in Mondugno, Italy in 1946, Troiano became a naturalized Canadian in 1955. He was raised in Toronto and began playing guitar at age 15. His professional career started with Robbie Lane and the Disciples and segued into replacing Robbie Robertson in the lead guitar role with Ronnie Hawkins. One of Canada’s premier rock guitarists during the late ’60s and ’70s, Troiano was a member of the popular Toronto r%26b band The Five Rogues. That band evolved into The Rogues and then from 1966 through 1969, The Mandala. This legendary outfit toured it Soul Crusade extensively in the US and the group’s hits included the classic “Opportunity” in 1967 and “Love-it is” in 1968. Members of the band, including Troiano, went on the form Bush in 1970, a jazz-influenced rock band that released one self-titled album. In 1972, Troiano replaced Joe Walsh as the lead guitarist in The James Gang and, two years later replaced Randy Bachman in The Guess Who. In Toronto, Troiano fronte the Domenic Troiano Band from 1977-1979 and Black Market in 1981.
In 1984 he began writing themes and incidental music for TV, including CBS series Night Heat, Diamonds and Hot Shots, among many others.Troiano’s production dreits include work wit Shawne Jackson, Moe Koffman, Kilowatt as well as David Gibson and John Rutledge. His songs, which include “Writing on the Wall” and “I Can Hear You Calling” form the 1970s, have been recorded by Three Dog Night, Skylark and John Rutledge.
A stellar player of rock, blues, soul and jazz, Troiano ‘s guitar work can be heard on recording projects by the likes of Diana Ross, Joe Cocker, Donald Fagen, David Clayton-Thomas, Etta James, Ronnie Hawkins, James Cotton and Long John Baldry.
A true musician’s musician, Domenic Troiano is a most deserving inductee into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
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