John (JT) Telgen
John Telgen, Yellowknife, NT. early 1970s. (Debbie Telgen Photo)
John Telgen grew up in a musical family in Prescott, Ontario.
In 1967 John moved to Toronto where he played in bands surrounded by the vibrant music scene in Yorkville and on Younge Street.
A couple of the musicians John played with had moved north and they sent back word that there was lots of work to be had playing music in Yellowknife.
So in the fall of ‘73, John and his girlfriend Debbie loaded up the 1962 Pontiac with his dog and a drum kit and headed up the Mackenzie highway.
He started playing weekends in the Legion and Elks clubs and was soon playing 6 nights a week in local bars.
John was a highly respected musician and mentor to many young players in the Yellowknife music scene through the 1970s.
'Friends' L-R: John Sigvaldason, Sandy Wilson, John Telgen, the late, great Terry Mercer. McNiven beach, Yellowknife, NT. 1974. (Ken Coach photo, ©NNSL.com)
'Friends': L-R Pat Braden, the late, great Terry Mercer, Sandy Wilson, John Telgen, Yellowknife, NT 1979. (Diana Mathison photo, © NNSL.com)
John Telgen, Trapline, YK Inn, Yellowknife, NT, 1975 (photo courtesy Wayne Bertrand)
John Telgen, early 1970s, Yellowknife, NT (photo credit unknown)
