December’s Children came from Fredericksburg, Virginia, but were part of the same Washington, D.C. music scene as the Telstars. Bud Becker managed both bands, and the photos here come from his collection.
I don’t have the lineups down exactly but I believe members included:
Jerry Burke – lead vocals
Clay Staples (J.C. Staples) – lead guitar
Pete Kahn – rhythm guitar
Steve Gilles
Matt ”Red” Kilmer – organ
Mike Martino – drums
Mick Coiner (Mic Coiner) – lead vocals (replaced Jerry Burke)
Dick Alfers was a roadie for the band.
Also in 1967, the group made their only single, featuring a cover of Love’s “Signed D.C.” backed with an original “So Long Ago” by Burke, Gilles, and Staples.
On the record the group is listed as December’s Children, Ltd., released on Domestic Sound Records DS-123, with an address at 133 South Washington Street, Falls Church, VA. M.A. Becker and December’s Children and DSP Music published “So Long Ago”.
After Jerry Burke left for Vietnam in 1968, Mic Coiner took over on lead vocals.
I don’t know if the band’s members continued in music. Jerry Burke passed away in 2007.
Bud Becker’s silent footage of December’s Children at a VFW hall with Jerry Burke on lead vocals, followed by Jerry Burke’s haircut shortly before going into the Marines, ending with a short clip at a Hullabaloo with Mic Coiner on vocals.
Thank you to Bud Becker and Paul Burke for their help with this article.
Jerry was a “one in a million” lead singer. December’s Children was a very special band and a great impact on my life! Bud Becker
Thank you, Bud. I appreciate all you did for us.
Red Kilmer
Hi Mathew,
Great to see you and Red on here. My Dad, Jerry Burke, loved the band and mentioned Red often over the years.
So glad there is memorabilia around. Would love to have a call with you guys to catch up on what is was like at that time.
Thanks,
Paul Burke
Hey Paul,
I was in a band at Domestic Sounds and opend a show for them at what was called the Subway Club. The building is gone but it was in what has become the Tysons Corner area today. Also, back in the 1966 thru 1969 time frame, Decembers Children played at my High School, Fort Hunt High, annually. I remember a show with the Yorkshires in the fall of 1966 in the school gym. And then another show I remember in the school cafeteria in ’67. Then another in the hallway outside the cafeteria in ’68. One of the best bands from back in the day on the local teen scene. I still think about those shows. So I remember when your dad left the band. What did he do with his life upon coming back from Vietnam? I tried some years ago to get Bud Becker to write a book about the music scene he was so instrumental in creating, but he only got as far as his “memories from the road” series of recordings. I’d be interested to know how it went with your father upon his return. Thanks and happy 2024.
Bill Pooton
Sperryville VA
Jerry and Matt were always good friends to me! Tinker Williams
i had no idea this was out there. thanks Paul and Bud. I remember a lot but have forgotten a lot also. We used to practice in the basement of Jerry’s parents house on Poplar in Falls Church. Jerry’s mom would always want us to play “Rain” (beatles song). and his dad would take us out late nights after gigs to some diner in Merrifield.
memories
It was exciting to find this site as I often search for information about NOVA’s December Children.
Mike Martino was my first cousin and what a thrill it was to watch him drum when I got the opportunity. Watching him do a drum solo at the FC Community City was a highlight of those times. He was phenomenal, as was the whole band.
His mother, my Aunt Hazel, gave me a copy of the above 45 which I had made into cds to share with my siblings.
Thank you for the great photos, too!