Roy Kenner
Encyclopedia
Roy Kenner is a Canadian singer and songwriter, most notable as the lead vocalist of Mandala in the late 1960s and as the lead vocalist of The James Gang during 1972-1974.
and was with the band with guitarist Domenic Troiano
and later Tommy Bolin
. He was also with Domenic Troiano in the Canadian bands Mandala and Bush
, both of which had some degree of international success, and sang on Troiano's solo albums.
In the 1970s, Kenner was instrumental in launching the career of Lisa Dal Bello. Her first single, "(I Don't Want To) Stand in Your Way," was written by Kenner, and is regarded as one of the strongest songs on her self-titled 1977 debut album
.
Following his time with The James Gang, Kenner worked with a Toronto-based television musical variety show, Music Machine, for approximately two years, after which he worked with Garry Peterson
(drummer for The Guess Who
) in an unrecorded R&B band, Delphia. In 1975, Kenner joined the U.S. band, Law, and recorded two albums with them, on the Goldhawke record label, owned by Roger Daltrey
.
Kenner then rejoined Domenic Troiano, co-writing and singing on Troiano's 1979 album, Fret Fever. The record included the dance hit "We All Need Love," Troiano's biggest commercial success. The two also collaborated on TV soundtracks, in particular the theme to the TV series "Night Heat
".
Despite his international success as a lead vocalist, Kenner has never released a solo album. In 1982, he contributed to one half of a six-song EP
, Roy Kenner/The Royals, with three songs co-written with and produced by Domenic Troiano.
Kenner currently does jingle
s and voice-over
work in Toronto, in addition to performing occasionally. He has performed at the 2006 and 2007 "We All Need Love" tribute concerts for Domenic Troiano, who succumbed to cancer in 2005.
History
Kenner's international fame was primarily as the lead vocalist for The James Gang from 1972 until 1974. He joined the group after the departure of Joe WalshJoe Walsh
Joseph Fidler "Joe" Walsh is an American musician, songwriter, record producer, and actor. He has been a member of three commercially successful bands, the James Gang, Barnstorm, and the Eagles, and has experienced notable success as a solo artist and prolific session musician, especially with B.B...
and was with the band with guitarist Domenic Troiano
Domenic Troiano
Domenic Troiano was a Canadian rock guitarist, most notable for his contributions to Mandala, The James Gang, The Guess Who and as a solo artist.-History:...
and later Tommy Bolin
Tommy Bolin
Thomas Richard "Tommy" Bolin was an American-born guitarist who played with Zephyr , The James Gang , and Deep Purple , in addition to doing solo work...
. He was also with Domenic Troiano in the Canadian bands Mandala and Bush
Bush (Canadian band)
Bush was a Canadian rock band in the early 1970s, which evolved from the respected club act Mandala. The latter had a minor Canadian hit with the song "Love-Itis". Bush consisted of ex-Mandala bandmates Domenic Troiano, Roy Kenner, Hugh Sullivan and Pentti Glan, plus Prakash John. The group...
, both of which had some degree of international success, and sang on Troiano's solo albums.
In the 1970s, Kenner was instrumental in launching the career of Lisa Dal Bello. Her first single, "(I Don't Want To) Stand in Your Way," was written by Kenner, and is regarded as one of the strongest songs on her self-titled 1977 debut album
Lisa Dal Bello (album)
Lisa Dal Bello is a self-titled album from Canadian musician Dalbello. It was released in 1977, and began Dalbello's debut at the age of 17...
.
Following his time with The James Gang, Kenner worked with a Toronto-based television musical variety show, Music Machine, for approximately two years, after which he worked with Garry Peterson
Garry Peterson
Garry Peterson is a Canadian drummer who has been a long-term member of the Canadian rock band The Guess Who. Along with Randy Bachman, he has also recorded and toured with another Canadian rock band, Bachman-Turner Overdrive.-Biography:...
(drummer for The Guess Who
The Guess Who
The Guess Who are a Canadian rock band from Winnipeg, Manitoba. Initially gaining recognition in Canada, they also found international success from the late 1960s through the mid-1970s with numerous hit singles, including "American Woman", "These Eyes" and "Share the Land"...
) in an unrecorded R&B band, Delphia. In 1975, Kenner joined the U.S. band, Law, and recorded two albums with them, on the Goldhawke record label, owned by Roger Daltrey
Roger Daltrey
Roger Harry Daltrey, CBE , is an English singer and actor, best known as the founder and lead singer of English rock band The Who. He has maintained a musical career as a solo artist and has also worked in the film industry, acting in a large number of films, theatre and television roles and also...
.
Kenner then rejoined Domenic Troiano, co-writing and singing on Troiano's 1979 album, Fret Fever. The record included the dance hit "We All Need Love," Troiano's biggest commercial success. The two also collaborated on TV soundtracks, in particular the theme to the TV series "Night Heat
Night Heat
Night Heat is a Canadian police drama series, which aired on CTV from 1985 to 1991. The show also aired on CBS in the United States from 1987 to 1993 and was the first Canadian-produced drama series to air on an American network...
".
Despite his international success as a lead vocalist, Kenner has never released a solo album. In 1982, he contributed to one half of a six-song EP
Extended play
An EP is a musical recording which contains more music than a single, but is too short to qualify as a full album or LP. The term EP originally referred only to specific types of vinyl records other than 78 rpm standard play records and LP records, but it is now applied to mid-length Compact...
, Roy Kenner/The Royals, with three songs co-written with and produced by Domenic Troiano.
Kenner currently does jingle
Jingle
A jingle is a short tune used in advertising and for other commercial uses. The jingle contains one or more hooks and lyrics that explicitly promote the product being advertised, usually through the use of one or more advertising slogans. Ad buyers use jingles in radio and television...
s and voice-over
Voice-over
Voice-over is a production technique where a voice which is not part of the narrative is used in a radio, television production, filmmaking, theatre, or other presentations...
work in Toronto, in addition to performing occasionally. He has performed at the 2006 and 2007 "We All Need Love" tribute concerts for Domenic Troiano, who succumbed to cancer in 2005.
James Gang
- 1972 Passin' ThruPassin' ThruPassin' Thru is the fourth studio album by James Gang, released in 1972.This was the first album after guitarist and vocalist Joe Walsh left and was replaced by the singer Roy Kenner and guitarist Domenic Troiano, who left the band after Straight Shooter and was replaced with ex-Zephyr guitarist...
(ABCABC RecordsABC Records was an American record label, founded in New York City in 1955 as ABC-Paramount Records. It originated as the main popular music label operated the Am-Par Record Corporation, the music subsidiary of the American Broadcasting Company . ABC-Paramount Records' first president was Samuel H....
) - 1972 Straight ShooterStraight Shooter (James Gang album)Straight Shooter is the fifth studio album by James Gang , released in 1972, and the final one released on ABC Records...
(ABC) - 1973 BangBang (James Gang album)Bang is the sixth studio album by James Gang, released in 1973. This is the first James Gang album featuring lead guitarist Tommy Bolin after Domenic Troiano left the band.-Reception:...
(AtcoAtco RecordsATCO Records is an American record label owned by Warner Music Group, currently operating through WMG's Rhino Entertainment.-Beginnings:Atco Records was founded in 1955 as a division of Atlantic Records. It was devised as an outlet for productions by one of Atlantic's founders, Herb Abramson, who...
) - 1973 16 Greatest Hits
- 1974 Miami (Atco)
Other Contributions
- 1977 Lisa Dal Bello, Lisa Dal Bello
- 1979 Domenic Troiano, Fret Fever
- 1986 Theme Song, Night Heat
External links
Images- An image of Roy Kenner with BushBush (Canadian band)Bush was a Canadian rock band in the early 1970s, which evolved from the respected club act Mandala. The latter had a minor Canadian hit with the song "Love-Itis". Bush consisted of ex-Mandala bandmates Domenic Troiano, Roy Kenner, Hugh Sullivan and Pentti Glan, plus Prakash John. The group...
(Roy Kenner, Whitey Glan, Domenic Troiano, Prakash JohnPrakash JohnPrakash John is a Canadian rock bassist.Born in Bombay, India, John was a student at the Cathedral and John Connon School, enrolling at the age of four in 1951. He migrated to Toronto in 1960....
) is accessible here. - An image of Roy Kenner with The James Gang (with Tommy BolinTommy BolinThomas Richard "Tommy" Bolin was an American-born guitarist who played with Zephyr , The James Gang , and Deep Purple , in addition to doing solo work...
) is accessible here. - An image of Roy Kenner at the 2006 Domenic Troiano tribute concert (Kenner at far right) is accessible here.
- An image of Roy Kenner at the 2007 Domenic Troiano tribute concert (Kenner in second row, center) is accessible here.
