A Passing Fancy
| A Passing Fancy | |
|---|---|
| Origin | Toronto, Ontario Canada |
| Genres | psychedelic rock |
| Years active | 1966–1969 |
| Associated acts | The Dimensions |
| Members | Jay Telfer Brian Price Rick Mann Phil Seon Louis Pratile |
| Past members | Greg Hershoff Steve Wilson Ian Telfer |
A Passing Fancy was a Canadian band from Toronto, active from the mid-1960s fronted by the singer-songwriter and guitarist Jay Telfer, and Brian Price.
At Downsview Secondary School, Brian Price (organ, vocals) formed his own band, the Dimensions with brothers Jay (rhythm guitar) and Ian Telfer (bass guitar), Phil Seon (guitar) and Greg Hershoff (drums) in July 1965, The Dimensions were managed by Bernie Finkelstein, (future president of True North Records and Bruce Cockburn's longstanding manager), who had also been a student at Downsview. After playing dates at many high schools across Ontario, the Dimensions became the house band at Cafe El Patio in the Yorkville Village through Finkelstein's connections. The band changed name to A Passing Fancy in January 1966 when Finkelstein left to take over the management of The Paupers.
By this stage, Rick Mann (aka Fruchtman) had replaced Jay's brother on bass. The new line-up began to gig extensively on the local scene. Through the band's fan club president, Barb Young, A Passing Fancy was introduced to record storeowner Walter Honsberger and partner Dan Bartollini, who began to shape the band's sound and image as Wal-Dan Management. Within a few months, the management team had wrangled a three-single deal with Columbia Records. The first single under this deal, I'm Losin' Tonight was very successful and charted across Canada.
In September 1966, Steve Wilson came in to replace Greg Hershoff on the drums. Aside from playing regularly at clubs like the Night Owl, the Gogue Inn and Club 888, A Passing Fancy also worked extensively at the Blue Fox and established a local following throughout late 1966 and early 1967.
The band's debut single, Telfer's “I’m Losing Tonight”, released in February 1967, reached No. 22 on the CHUM chart the following month. While its follow up, “You’re Going Out Of Your Mind” only made No. 37 in June, the group's third single for Columbia, “I Believe in Sunshine” restored some faith by reaching No. 28 in September. By then, Steve Wilson had left and Louis Pratile joined on drums.
During the summer of 1967, A Passing Fancy played at Expo ’67 in Montreal where they jammed with local band, Les Tetes Blanches. The moderate success of the singles, prompted Columbia to finance a fourth single, “People In Me”, was listed at No. 48 and failed to chart higher when it was released in December.
...
Wikipedia