Before the implementation of Canadian content regulations, homegrown music was naturally very much segregated by region without the help of radio to expand a group’s listening audience. One of Toronto’s hottest new sounds in the mid 60’s was a ‘Blue-Eyed Soul’ groove. Ironically, many of the leaders of the new soul-jazz fusion were immigrants from various parts of Europe, bringing a wide array of foreign spices to the mix. Mandala’s origins began in 1965. Italian-born Domenic Troiano left to form his own group, The Five Rogues, in Toronto. Along with vocalist George Olliver, they basically assimilated The Belltones. Previously known as Whitey and The Roulettes, they were comprised of Finnish-born Pentti ‘Whitey’ Glan on drums, bassist Don Elliot, and German-born Josef Chirowski on keyboards and trumpet. They quickly became a popular local draw and worked with David Clayton-Thomas, then landed the gig as the regular house band at Toronto’s Club Bluenote.