I'd like to offer our deepest condolences to the family and friends of Stone Smyth frontman and veteran local hard rock guitarist Troy Isaac, who passed away at Sault Area Hospital on Saturday at the age of 63. Troy is survived by his parents Darlene Nichols and Barry Isaac and his pet Buddy. The obituary notes that he was deeply private, but loved music, the outdoors, independence, and travelling for work and his own thrill of adventure. There will be no public services, but in lieu of flowers, family would appreciate donations to the Sault Ste. Marie Humane Society or the Canadian Cancer Society, and arrangements were entrusted to the Northwood Funeral Home. Long-time SMS readers will know Troy from his off-and-on solo project Stone Smyth (f.k.a. StrykerGC and StonesmithGC), who had launched in 2014 but ramped up their activity at points in the early 2020s with original songs & teasers of plans to tour with a full band.
Previously, Troy was the only credited solo performer on 1998's "Local Steel" compilation album via his own original song "A Long Cold Rain Comin' Down", and he performed in multiple bands while not living in the Soo, including in the British Columbia-based Angel Dust. I admittedly slacked too much in covering Stone Smyth on the SMS, bur Troy had posted new music as recently as June (even teasing hopes to tour this summer), and he has 45 songs on most major streaming services, though as of his death, he had not compiled a full album for sale. You can see multiple videos for Stone Smyth songs on their YouTube channel, largely featuring stock and CGI footage, though most recent videos reflected Troy's company Maverick Fish Hunter, where he took part in fishing, boating, and cooking uploads, and there are even television appearances there. While our political opinions differed, Troy was a good and passionate guy, and it's a shame to lose him so suddenly.
Even recently, Troy had big plans musically for Stone Smyth, and he showed a solid multi-instrumental talent range and a good songwriters' ear on their dozens of original songs. There is something ironic in how his last released song is named "Dead And Gone", and how it was written in honour of the passing of his friend Ker. I plan to talk more about Troy and Stone Smyth on the SMS soon (he was interviewed on The Borderline last year!), but give his music a spin, and if you like fellow veteran solo hard rock musicians like Tym Morrison and SweetKenny, Stone Smyth won't be far off in style. R.I.P. Troy!
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