Telfer grew up in Toronto and learned to play drums as a child.
[2] In 1968, as a solo musician, he released a single, Life, Love and the Pursuit of Happiness.
[3] Telfer performed with the Steel River band and wrote their song "Ten Pound Note"[4][5] which was on the RPM Top 50 Canadian chart in July 1970.
[6] Telfer wrote the score for the film Away the Lines, which featured Burl Ives.
[9] That year his single, "Time Has Tied Me" was on the RPM 50 Pop Music Playlist for three months.