Jay Telfer

Jay Telfer (December 22, 1947 - May 20, 2009) was a Canadian singer/songwriter and guitarist.

Early life

Telfer grew up in Toronto and learned to play drums as a child.[http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/T/Telfer.html "Telfer, Jay"]{{dead link|date=February 2024|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia.

Career

In the 1960s Telfer was the lead singer for the band A Passing Fancy.{{cite magazine|author=Mike Gross|title=From the Music Capitals of the World|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=SygEAAAAMBAJ&pg=RA1-PA56|date=11 November 1967|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=1–|issn=0006-2510}} In 1968, as a solo musician, he released a single, Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness.{{cite magazine|title=Relocation set by Tuesday|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oyIEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA66|date=7 December 1968|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=66–|issn=0006-2510}}

Telfer performed with the Steel River band and wrote their song "Ten Pound Note"{{cite magazine|title=Francy will manage Telfer|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=awkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA52|date=25 May 1974|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=52–|issn=0006-2510}}{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/S/Steel_River.html |archive-url=https://archive.today/20141208004528/http://jam.canoe.ca/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/S/Steel_River.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=December 8, 2014 |title=Steel River |encyclopedia=Canadian Pop Encyclopedia |publisher=Canoe Inc}} which was on the RPM Top 50 Canadian chart in July 1970.[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=2507& "Top 50 Canadian Chart"]. RPM Magazine, Canadian Content, - Volume 13, No. 23 Jul 25, 1970

Telfer wrote the score for the film Away the Lines, which featured Burl Ives.{{cite magazine|author=Michael Bennett|title=Western Canada:Activity abounds on all fronts|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YUUEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA48|date=30 September 1972|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=48–|issn=0006-2510}}

Telfer toured briefly with Lighthouse in 1974,{{cite magazine|author=Martin Melhuish|title=From the Music Capitals of the World| magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=RQkEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA42|date=13 July 1974|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=42–|issn=0006-2510}} and then toured in western Canada with Gary & Dave.{{cite magazine|title=Axe Shows Sharpness|magazine=Billboard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tAcEAAAAMBAJ&pg=PT49|date=19 October 1974|publisher=Nielsen Business Media, Inc.|pages=49–|issn=0006-2510}} That year his single, "Time Has Tied Me" was on the RPM 50 Pop Music Playlist for three months.[http://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/discover/films-videos-sound-recordings/rpm/Pages/item.aspx?IdNumber=9217& "RPM Pop Music Playlist"]. Adult Contemporary - Volume 21, No. 15 Jun 01, 1974

Telfer performed at the 1988 Spirit of Yorkville street festival. In 1995 Telfer founded the antiques magazine The Wayback Times. He died May 20, 2009, in Mississauga.

References

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