Mandala (Canadian band)

Mandala
The group in 1967
Background information
Also known as	The Rogues
Origin	Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Genres	Rhythm and Blues
Years active	1965 (1965)–1970 (1970)
Past members	Domenic Troiano Roy Kenner Don Elliot George Olliver

Mandala was a Canadian R&B and soul band from the 1960s. The band was formed in 1965 in Toronto as The Rogues and changed their name prior to their first Canadian Top 40 hit "Opportunity".

The band is best known for containing well-known Canadian guitarist, the late Domenic Troiano who recorded with The James Gang and The Guess Who in the Seventies. The band also contained Roy Kenner, who later became the lead singer with the James Gang, both during and after the period when Troiano was lead guitarist with that band.

Mandala's origins can be traced back to The Rogues, the house band at the Club Bluenote in Toronto during the summer of 1964. Keyboard player Josef Chirowski (born March 2, 1947 in Germany), bass player Don Elliot (born December 8, 1944 in Toronto) and drummer Pentti "Whitey" Glan (born July 8, 1946 in Finland) had worked together previously in several outfits, most notably Whitey & The Roulettes, who also contained future Luke & The Apostles and McKenna Mendelson Mainline guitarist, Mike McKenna.

The band adopted the name The Rogues when singer George Olliver (born January 25, 1946 in Toronto) and former Robbie Lane & The Disciples guitarist Domenic Troiano (born Michaele Antonio, January 17, 1946 in Modugno, Italy, naturalized Canadian in 1955) joined in 1965. For a very brief period at the end of 1965, future Blood, Sweat & Tears singer David Clayton-Thomas also augmented the line up after parting with his previous support band, The Shays.

In the spring of 1966, The Rogues (minus Clayton-Thomas) briefly became The Five Rogues and consolidated their local reputation with regular appearances on the city's vibrant club scene, playing at venues like the Hawk's Nest, the Club El Mocambo and the Gogue Inn.

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