Domenic Troiano is the best guitarist you've never heard of. Born in Italy in the late 1940s, he grew up in Canada and quickly developed a love of rock & roll. Toronto's R&B music scene was thriving in the mid-1960s, and Troiano was in the center of it. After playing guitar with Robbie Lane and the Disciples, Mandala, and Bush, he joined the James Gang in 1972, replacing Joe Walsh. Domenic recorded two albums with the band before leaving, and he later joined the Guess Who in 1974, recording two albums with that band as well. From 1972 to 1979, he released five solo albums, all featuring a wide variety of music and an assortment of musicians. Popular music icons such as Randy Bachman, Joe Cocker, and Diana Ross recruited him to play guitar on their albums. As a session player, he has also worked with such respected musicians and producers as Donald Fagen, Bob Ezrin, Larry Carlton, Todd Rundgren, Gary Katz, David Sanborn, and Vini Poncia.
In the '80s, Domenic worked mostly on music for movies and television shows. In March 1996, he was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame. Much of Domenic's solo work has been remastered and released on CD for a new generation of music lovers to enjoy.
Domenic's musical style is hard to pin down. With rock as his base, he has played R&B, soul, funk, fusion, blues, and pop in his 20 years as a rock musician. He has written complex pieces ("War Zone"), excellent instrumentals ("Lonely Girl," "Ambush"), and radio-ready pop songs ("We All Need Love," "The Writing's on the Wall"), all with equal heart and skill. Intricate but powerful, his guitar playing is an interesting rock style that borrows elements of jazz and blues. Lyrically, Domenic commonly sings about hope and having the confidence to reach your goals. The unique lyrics, music, and guitar playing combine to create a sound that can only be labeled as Troiano's.
Domenic has often been called "a musician's musician." No matter who he played with or what kind of music it was, Domenic always maintained a certain level of musicianship in his work. This high standard of quality explains why he has a devoted following in Canada, Europe, and America to this day. I believe, and I always will, that he is one of the greatest rock guitar players ever. It's a shame that he never found commercial success. This proves that some of the best performers out there are the ones few people have heard of.
Created in October of 1999, this fan site has grown considerably since its inception. I have compiled information from a large number of sources, including other Troiano fans from around the world, in an attempt to present a comprehensive and informative web page dedicated to Domenic. I hope you enjoy browsing my site, but if you really want to appreciate Troiano's work, listen to the music!
"It's the music that counts, not who they think you are." - Fret Fever, 1979
Mandala's Soul Crusade was released on CD June 29, 2010. It's available on Pacemaker (Canada) or
Wounded Bird (U.S.). Order it:
Canada
Pacemaker Entertainment
EMI Music
Amazon
CDPlus
U.S.
Wounded Bird
Amazon
Amazon (Pacemaker)
CD Universe
CD Universe (Pacemaker)
"Fret Fever"
The Domenic Troiano Band, 1979
Domenic Troiano | Tricky | Burnin' at the Stake | The Joke's on Me | Fret Fever
Mini-biography | Full biography | Mandala
Solo discography | Solo and band discography | Master discography
Reissues and rarities | Domenic's contributions to bands
Production, musician, film, and TV credits | Articles | Pictures
Interviews | References | Tribute | Webmaster
