Troy Donockley facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Troy Donockley
Donockley with Nightwish in 2022
Background information
Born	(1964-05-30) 30 May 1964 (age 61) Workington, Cumberland, England
Genres	Folk rock, traditional, progressive rock, symphonic metal
Occupation(s)	Musician
Instruments	Uilleann pipes, tin whistle, vocals, guitar, keyboards, bass guitar, bouzouki, cittern, bodhrán, mandola
Years active	1980–present

Troy Donockley was born on May 30, 1964. He is a musician and composer from England. He is best known for playing the Uilleann pipes, a type of Irish bagpipes. Troy has played with many artists. He is most famous as a member of the Finnish band Nightwish. This band plays symphonic metal music. He started performing with them in 2007 and became a full-time member in 2013.

Troy's Early Life and Music Journey

Troy Donockley was born in Workington, England. His parents were musicians in a band called Travelling Country. When Troy was 16, he joined their band. They played music at many places in West Cumbria. Troy's dad had a large collection of records. This helped Troy love different kinds of music. He enjoyed classical, rock, country, and traditional music. Troy can play many instruments. He is especially good at the Uilleann pipes. As a teenager, he wanted to travel the world playing music. He did not like "empty pop" music. The unique sound of the Uilleann pipes helped him. He became a guest musician for the band The Enid in 1987. He played on their album called 'The Seed and the Sower'.

Playing Celtic-Folk Music

Troy Donockley playing guitar with You Slosh in 1991

In 1987, Troy started his own band called 'You Slosh'. It was a Celtic Rock band. They recorded their album 'Glorious Racket' in 1989. The next year, he played as a guest musician for the Celtic-folk band Iona. This was when Celtic-folk music was becoming very popular. Both bands were very successful. Troy recorded another album with You Slosh in 1991. He also recorded nine more albums with Iona. He officially joined Iona in 1995. He left the band in 2009. Máire Brennan from the famous Celtic-folk group Clannad asked Troy to play on her album 'Two Horizons'. In 1999, Troy played on the album 'Debatable Lands' by Kathryn Tickell. They played different types of pipes together. Kathryn plays the Northumbrian smallpipes.

In 2008, Troy started a band called The Bad Shepherds. He formed it with Adrian Edmondson. They played punk and new wave songs. But they used folk instruments instead of electric ones.

Working with Maddy Prior and Barbara Dickson

Troy met singers Barbara Dickson and Maddy Prior because they lived in northern England. Barbara Dickson made both easy-listening and folk albums. Troy played as a guest musician on her folk albums in 1994 and 2004. He then helped create several of her albums. These included 'Words Unspoken' (2010) and 'To Each & Everyone - The Songs of Gerry Rafferty' (2013). After recording Flesh and Blood with Maddy Prior in 1997, Troy also helped produce her next four solo albums.

Joining Nightwish

Troy Donockley with Nightwish in 2007

Troy first played with Nightwish in 2007. He was a guest musician on their album Dark Passion Play. He added whistles and pipes to songs like "The Islander" and "Last of the Wilds". He also joined them for some shows on their tour. He appeared in the music video for "The Islander". In 2011, Troy was a guest on their album Imaginaerum. He played whistles, pipes, and sang. He toured with Nightwish again for the Imaginaerum World Tour. He was also on their concert DVD 'Showtime, Storytime'. Troy also appeared in the 2012 Imaginaerum movie. He played a stage magician.

After the Imaginaerum World Tour ended, Troy became a full-time member of Nightwish. This happened in October 2013. He plays many instruments for the band. These include pipes, whistles, bouzouki, and electric and acoustic guitars.

Troy sings the main vocals for Nightwish's song ‘Harvest’. This song was released in 2020. It is one of only two songs on the album Human. :II: Nature. where the main singer is not Floor Jansen.

Guest Musician Work

Troy Donockley with The Bad Shepherds in 2014

Troy has played as a guest musician for many artists. These include Roy Harper, Midge Ure, Del Amitri, Alan Stivell, Status Quo, and Leah. Bruce Johnston from the Beach Boys has also used his talents. Troy has played on eight albums by the band Mostly Autumn. He also played on two albums for the Welsh band Magenta. He was also on Etarlis, an album by Mermaid Kiss in 2007. You can hear his music in the movie soundtracks for Robin Hood (2010) and Ironclad (2011). He also performed with Midge Ure at the Live 8 concert in Scotland.

Classical Music Compositions

Troy Donockley has also written music for choirs and orchestras. He has worked hard to make sure his recordings sound perfect. His albums The Unseen Stream (1998) and The Pursuit of Illusion (2003) used the uilleann pipes in a new way. His most recent classical music album is The Madness of Crowds (2009).

Personal Life

Troy Donockley lives in North Yorkshire, England. He lives with his wife, Terri, and their daughter, Mia. He is also a vegan.

Discography

See Also

In Spanish: Troy Donockley para niños