Joe Cocker News

Canadian guitarist Domenic "Donnie" Troiano died May 25 at his home in Toronto after a long fight with cancer. He was 59.

Born in Modugno, Italy, and a naturalized Canadian since 1955, Troiano was a force in Canadian music for 40 years. He came to prominence with Toronto-based Robbie Lane & the Disciples, which backed up Arkansas rockabilly singer Ronnie Hawkins in the early '60s.

He later performed as a guitarist with the Five Rogues, the Mandala, Bush, the James Gang (replacing Joe Walsh) and the Guess Who, as well as his own Domenic Troiano Band. He also handled music supervision for films and TV, including the CBS TV shows "Night Heat," "Diamonds" and "Hot Shots."

"Domenic's contribution to Canadian music is unmeasurable," producer Bob Ezrin told Billboard. "He is one of the finest instrumentalists that Canada has ever produced. He has had an influence on every kid who picked up a guitar in Canada since he started playing."

Guess Who frontman Burton Cummings said, "The best time I remember with Domenic was when he came out and stayed with me in Winnipeg in 1975 ... I had my 100-year-old upright piano, he an acoustic guitar, and we'd drink strong espresso coffee. Those were tremendous times."

In demand for session work in the 1980s, Troiano appeared on recordings by Steely Dan, Diana Ross, Joe Cocker and David Clayton-Thomas. He was inducted into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame in 1996.

Troiano is survived by his mother and two siblings.

Reuters/Billboard