The Telstars “Hold Tight” on Columbia

Tel Stars Washington DC photo and business card
The Tel Stars, from left: Jimmy Carter, Ronnie Wilson, unidentified – can anyone ID? and Terry Gorka

Telstars Columbia 45 Keep on RunningThe Telstars were a big draw in the Washington DC area, playing at the Bayou among other venues.

The band was based in Falls Church; members included:

Jimmy Maddox – guitar
Gary Johnson – guitar
Jimmy Carter – guitar
Terry Gorka – bass
Ronnie Wilson – drums

Bud Becker sent in the photo seen here, and remembers two vocalists with the band, Jerry Burke, who went into the Army, and a second named Mick. He also remembers Terry’s wife Cherrie Gorka was a seamstress who made costumes for December’s Children, and that Barry Siedel managed the band.

The Telstars put a lot of fuzz behind “Keep on Running”, a song written and originally performed by Jackie Edwards, and made famous through the Spencer Davis Group. It’s a good version, but I like their take on “Hold Tight” even more. Sylvia Fricker of Ian & Sylvia wrote “Hold Tight”, registering copyright in September, 1966.

“Hold Tight” appeared on Ian & Sylvia’s 1967 album So Much for Dreaming, which I don’t have a release date for, but I believe it shortly precedes the Telstars single on Columbia 4-44141 in May, 1967. I’d be curious if the Telstars heard “Hold Tight” on the album or from a songwriting demo.

The production credit is interesting. Bob Wyld and Art Polhemus of Longhair Productions created many great singles with the Blues Magoos, including “Tobacco Road” and “(We Ain’t Got) Nothin’ Yet”; the Magicians (“An Invitation to Cry”, “About My Love” and more), the Blue Beats and others, usually on Columbia Records.

Barry Seidel (with Tom Traynor) produced records by the Mad Hatters and the Fallen Angels. The Telstars record is the only time Seidel worked with both Wyld and Polhemus, but Bob Wyld would later produce albums for acts that Seidel managed, Steel Image and Exuma.

Bud Becker thought the Telstars recorded at either Rhondell Rodel Studios in Georgetown or Edgewood Recording Studios. Bud managed various groups, such as the Winds of Change and the Yorkshires.

Terry Gorka would go into the Reason with Tommy Dildy, Bill Manning, and Billy Windsor, releasing an album Age of Reason on Georgetowne Records.

Thank you to Linda Shekan for correcting some errors in this article with her comment below.

11 thoughts on “The Telstars “Hold Tight” on Columbia”

    1. The Telstars were a great band…they had various members from time to time and the fellow on the left in the photo above is Jimmy Carter. Jimmy was well known in DC and the surrounding area as a fantastic guitarist. He played in numerous bands… Telstars, Wild Honey, The British Walkers and others and also could sing extremely well.

      Larry Marseglia

      1. I was a friend of Jimmy in Arlington,Va.
        I remember his first Gitar,quite the shade of green.
        We started a band called the flames and played at the Boston firehouse.
        Jimmy Carter,Gary Bennett,Ralph Perkins Jimmy Gray and myself.
        Jimmy always had a guitar pick in his hand or in his mouth.

  1. Saw them many, many, many times + Wilbur Slaughter & Gene Wishner
    The best of times
    One problem: as the saying goes “you may know them but, do they know you”?
    Would love to connect with any of them

    Alan Pollin

    1. My name is Doug Allen
      Ronnie was a great friend of mine from Chuck Kevin’s Washington Music Center
      It’s been years since I saw him
      I get the feeling he’s no longer with us…. that’s a huge hole in my heart if it’s true….
      I’d appreciate a call from you…love to hear Anything about him
      Thanks, Doug…..702.622.5327

  2. Misspelling of the studio in Georgetown. Correct spelling is RODEL. I am not saying that that’s where they recorded; just correcting the name of the place. From the 50s through the early 2000s RODEL was a very busy audio studio in DC. Would be interesting, still, to know where the band actually recorded.

  3. Terry Gorka is on the far right. His wife’s name is Cherrie, not Sherry. Terry joined a band called the Reasons Why with Tommy Dildy (not Didly), Bill Manning, and Bill Windsor. Ronnie Wilson, Bill Manning, and Bill Windsor have all passed away.

  4. Ronnie was a good friend and I tried to make a page on facebook about him, it is called Friends of Ronnie Wilson. Please visit if you get a chance and add any pictures. I would like to add this picture on this page if its all right with the owner. Thank you Rick Sheltra

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