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Roy Kenner
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Vocalist
Roy Kenner
is perhaps most recognized for his stint in
the James Gang
, one of many collaborations with fellow Canadian and longtime friend
Domenic Troiano
.
Kenner
began his musical career in the mid-'60s fronting
R.K. & the Associates
, a local favorite in Toronto's burgeoning R&B movement. In 1967,
Kenner
replaced
George Olliver
in
Mandala
, one of the scene's most sought-after bands. The group was known for its high-energy live shows and outstanding musicianship, including the impressive guitar work of
Domenic Troiano
. Although the band had started recording material for its debut album with
Olliver
, the tracks were completed with
Kenner
taking over all lead vocals.
Mandala
's only long-player,
Soul Crusade
, was released in mid-1968 and spawned the Canadian chart hit "Love-itis." After the release of the album,
Mandala
struggled to stay afloat amid inner turmoil and declining popularity. The group released one final single, "You Got Me," in late 1968 and disbanded shortly thereafter.
Kenner
,
Troiano
, and drummer
Whitey Glan
then recruited bassist
Prakash John
and formed Bush. The band toured with
Three Dog Night
and
Steppenwolf
and cut an eponymous album before splitting in 1971.
Shortly after the demise of Bush,
Troiano
was asked to replace guitarist/vocalist
Joe Walsh
in
the James Gang
. Reluctant to sing, he suggested
Kenner
as a vocalist. The two joined the Cleveland-based rock band in 1972.
Straight Shooter
and
Passin' Thru
, both dominated by
Kenner
/
Troiano
compositions, were released that year. The new lineup of
the James Gang
was gaining momentum when legal hassles suddenly prevented the band from releasing new material. The band stuck together until the issues were resolved, but
Troiano
left in 1973 and was soon replaced by
Tommy Bolin
. With
Bolin
pushing
the James Gang
back into a hard rock sound, this incarnation of the band released a pair of albums --
Bang
in 1973 and
Miami
in 1974 -- that captured the attention of many old fans dissatisfied with the more funk-oriented
Troiano
-era material. Although the records were respectable sellers,
the James Gang
couldn't reclaim the success of previous efforts, and they split in late 1974.
After
the James Gang
,
Kenner
went back to Toronto and worked on the Canadian TV show Music Machine. During this time, he also collaborated with aspiring singer
Lisa DelBello
and with R&B band
Delphia
, formed by
Guess Who
drummer
Garry Peterson
. While
Delphia
never landed a record deal,
Kenner
was successful in helping
DelBello
launch her career. "(Don't Want To) Stand in Your Way," a tune written by
Kenner
, became her first single and proved to be a highlight of her debut album. Around 1976,
Kenner
accepted an invitation to join funk-rock band
Law
, sharing vocal duties with keyboard player
Ronnie Cunningham
.
Law
released two albums,
Breakin' It
and
Hold on to It
, on
Roger Daltrey
's Goldhawke label, and toured throughout 1977 and 1978.
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. With
Troiano
's assistance,
Kenner
released the single "Transparent Love" on Anthem Records in 1980. Two years later, the track wound up on a split EP featuring
Kenner
on the first half and
George Olliver
with
Bobbi DuPont
and
the Royals
on the flip.
Kenner
's recorded output since the early '80s has been minimal. He sang lead vocals on the
Troiano
-penned theme song for the TV series Night Heat, which enjoyed a successful run in the mid-'80s. The track was released as a single in 1986. Today he remains mostly under the musical radar, focusing on voiceover and jingle work and performing sporadically in the Toronto area.
–
Jeremy Frey, Rovi
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More Roy Kenner
Discography
Roy Kenner/The Royals
1980
Transparent Love
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