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.<ref>[http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/T/Telfer.html "Telfer, Jay"]{{dead link|date=April 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}, ''The Canadian Pop Encyclopedia''.</ref>

==Career==

In the 1960s Telfer was the lead singer for the band A Passing Fancy.<ref name="Inc.1967">{{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}}</ref> In 1968, as a solo musician, he released a single, ''Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness''.<ref name="Inc.1968">{{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}}</ref>

Telfer performed with the Steel River band and wrote their song "Ten Pound Note"<ref name="Inc.1974a">{{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}}</ref><ref name=canoe>{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://jam.canoe.com/Music/Pop_Encyclopedia/S/Steel_River.html |title=Steel River |encyclopedia=Canadian Pop Encyclopedia |publisher=Canoe Inc}}{{dead link|date=April 2026|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}}</ref> which was on the RPM Top 50 Canadian chart in July 1970.<ref>[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</ref>

Telfer wrote the score for the film ''Away the Lines'', which featured Burl Ives.<ref name="Inc.1972">{{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}}</ref>

Telfer toured briefly with Lighthouse in 1974,<ref name="Inc.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}}</ref> and then toured in western Canada with Gary & Dave.<ref name="BB1974">{{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}}</ref> That year his single, "Time Has Tied Me" was on the RPM 50 Pop Music Playlist for three months.<ref>[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</ref>

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== {{reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestar/obituary.aspx?pid=127574101 Obituary in the Toronto Star] * [https://www.discogs.com/artist/4141796-Jay-Telfer Discogs: Jay Telfer]

{{DEFAULTSORT:Telfer, Jay}} Category:Canadian rock guitarists Category:Canadian male guitarists Category:2009 deaths Category:1947 births Category:20th-century Canadian guitarists Category:20th-century Canadian male musicians Category:Axe Records artists