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Telemarkman · April 17th, 2007, 06:53 PM

The story of Mandala is actually more intriguing than most people are aware of. Of course the band members know (though they have kept it a secret), and Domenic Troiano knew, but he was in fact not the one who's credited as guitarist, songwriter, horn arranger, producer and vocalist on the "Soul Crusade" album.

One of our TDPRI members, who's a good friend of mine, though we haven't actually met, lived in Canada from 1964 to 1968. He was a guitar player and was asked to join the band Mandala. (If I remember correctly, they still called themselves 5 Rogues). He played with them from 1966 to 1968 and recorded the album "Soul Crusade" with them. He wrote most of the songs, and also co-produced the album for Atlantic. (He was only 16-17 at the time !)
All the guys used "stage names" - they were "stars", weren't they - and my friend used the name Domenic Troiano ! (Says he found it in the Toronto telephone catalog). The album was a minor hit, but the single "Love-itis" topped the Canadian charts in 1968. It also did well in the US - at no.9 I think.

My friend had to leave Canada and Mandala in '68, when his family moved back to the US. (Legal age was 21 - he was 18). He was very frustrated, and for personal reasons he didn't touch a guitar in almost 20 years !

What he did not know at the time, was that a hot shot guitar player had taken his place in Mandala, and also used my friend's stage name Domenic Troiano ! The guys real name was Michaele Antonio, and he was actually Italian. I won't go into the reason why he took my friend's stage name - it was actually the boys in the band who persuaded him - but he kept that name for the rest of his carreer.

So there's actually a "first" Dom and a "second" Dom. The second Dom made his fortune and fame, mainly as a solo artist, but also in bands like Guess Who, Bush and James Gang. The first Dom got married to a girl of Norwegian descent, and never joined another band. BUT.....he should be credited for his work on the "Soul Crusade" album ! The second Dom had absolutely nothing to do with that album whatsoever, he only played with Mandala for a short time before they broke up.

I've asked my friend about the picture in mildwild's post, and though he's never seen it before, he's 99% certain that it's him and not the more famous Dom#2.

I have my friend's permission (and his wife's

) to write this story of Mandala, but I promised I wouldn't reveal his real name. A Canadian journalist has planned on revealing the "story behind the story" next year however - by then the "Soul Crusade" album enjoys it's 40th anniversary.

April 17th, 2007, 06:53 PM	#13 (permalink)
Telemarkman Poster Extraordinaire Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Norway Age: 62 Posts: 6,201	The story of Mandala is actually more intriguing than most people are aware of. Of course the band members know (though they have kept it a secret), and Domenic Troiano knew, but he was in fact not the one who's credited as guitarist, songwriter, horn arranger, producer and vocalist on the "Soul Crusade" album. One of our TDPRI members, who's a good friend of mine, though we haven't actually met, lived in Canada from 1964 to 1968. He was a guitar player and was asked to join the band Mandala. (If I remember correctly, they still called themselves 5 Rogues). He played with them from 1966 to 1968 and recorded the album "Soul Crusade" with them. He wrote most of the songs, and also co-produced the album for Atlantic. (He was only 16-17 at the time !) All the guys used "stage names" - they were "stars", weren't they - and my friend used the name Domenic Troiano ! (Says he found it in the Toronto telephone catalog). The album was a minor hit, but the single "Love-itis" topped the Canadian charts in 1968. It also did well in the US - at no.9 I think. My friend had to leave Canada and Mandala in '68, when his family moved back to the US. (Legal age was 21 - he was 18). He was very frustrated, and for personal reasons he didn't touch a guitar in almost 20 years ! What he did not know at the time, was that a hot shot guitar player had taken his place in Mandala, and also used my friend's stage name Domenic Troiano ! The guys real name was Michaele Antonio, and he was actually Italian. I won't go into the reason why he took my friend's stage name - it was actually the boys in the band who persuaded him - but he kept that name for the rest of his carreer. So there's actually a "first" Dom and a "second" Dom. The second Dom made his fortune and fame, mainly as a solo artist, but also in bands like Guess Who, Bush and James Gang. The first Dom got married to a girl of Norwegian descent, and never joined another band. BUT.....he should be credited for his work on the "Soul Crusade" album ! The second Dom had absolutely nothing to do with that album whatsoever, he only played with Mandala for a short time before they broke up. I've asked my friend about the picture in mildwild's post, and though he's never seen it before, he's 99% certain that it's him and not the more famous Dom#2. I have my friend's permission (and his wife's ) to write this story of Mandala, but I promised I wouldn't reveal his real name. A Canadian journalist has planned on revealing the "story behind the story" next year however - by then the "Soul Crusade" album enjoys it's 40th anniversary.