Turchyn Tunes | Audio Love for the Masses

Dive into the vibes of Reel Jersey’s Girl’s Throwback Thursday with Yuri Turchyn (2017) trading insights and appreciation for Jersey’s Own amalgamation of talent – lifelong working musicians and the Jersey Sound. “What drew us to summer work at the Jersey Shore? Neither one of us is a Water Sign. Fire (Aries)+Air (Gemini) meet the soothing waters at the Jersey Shore– a place for artists and entertainers. #JerseySound #AsburyPark #SummerVibes #ReelJerseyGirl #TurchynTunes

An artist’s life has always been a difficult one. Our society’s unforgiving drive to define a career destination has always cast a shadow on our dreams and desires to do what we can with the talents and authentic gifts of creativity bestowed upon us. Yuri Turchyn was a musician’s musician.

While we were young, our parents would approve and support the work that came out of our passion; however, once it became apparent that this direction would not change towards an occupation that could provide a successful position in society and steady income for life’s next platform– marriage, family responsibilities, and abandonment of the art that brought joy and fulfillment to our lives. Yuri was conflicted. He had to get a degree in something practical, his father lectured. What if you are still a musician by age 60? What will you do then?

Megan Hellerer’s latest book, Directional Living, is based on the premise that a fulfilling, purpose-filled career and life is built by following your inner sense of direction, not pursuing a fixed destination, and (according to the book’s description) one full of genuine purpose, meaning, ease, and authenticity. Some achieved their dreams. Many had an opportunity and jumped at it. It was like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.

In this episode, I opened the conversation with a diehard Kinderhook fan, Chris Riccio. His love for the band and the music remains boundless. Memories of the gigs and setlists bring out the joyful spirit of youth, and as he put it, the Kinderhook music of those days remains timeless. We talked about the influences outside of the country music realm, taking Steely Dan and Sam Cooke tunes and turning them into country rock with a twist: five guitars at the Stone Pony, adding an unusual instrument to the mix, a sax player, an element that turned the iconic Sundance encore into one of the best renditions. It’s something Yuri always worked on– how to make the arrangements interesting and fun. As Chris put it, the entire band had talent, and when they got on stage, they gelled.

While Kinderhook never got that break, their legacy remains alive and kicking. One thing I am focusing on these days is getting the 1972-82 band Kinderhook inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame.They are Jersey’s Own, who created a Jersey Sound during the heyday of playing in clubs where fans had the best time during their younger days. Past lives are carefully tended to in the archives of their mind palaces.

I look forward to hearing that Sundance tune with the sax. It will be just as magical as the first song Kinderhook recorded, Thousand Stops to Nowhere lyrics and lead singing by Yuri Turchyn.

Since my conversation with Kinderhook Creek founding member and Yuri Turchyn’s bandmate, Jerry (Yaropolk) Kopychuk, I am digging deeper into the archaeological levels of their music from the beginning when they were an acoustic quartet unearthing their very first recording, Thousand Stops to Nowhere. As a composer and lyricist, Yuri’s influences can be traced to Simon and Garfunkel, Jimmie Webb, and JD Souther’s soulful sounds of yearning in their love songs. Sad and longing to be with the one you love. Yuri wrote many songs for the special person in his life at the time. It’s a moment. Listening to this beautiful tune, I felt at that moment the same as I had a lifetime ago.

The music and live shows during their run were exceptional. I knew I had to go after Jerry mentioned Richie Furay’s (Poco, Souther, Hillman, and Furay) final show on tour at SOPAC. As fortune smiled upon me, I bought the last ticket and took a ride back to the Garden State, where I witnessed a marvelous show blending generations while keeping the basics intact for the audience’s enjoyment. After missing JD Souther’s show a week later, he died. Thus, I vowed not to miss the music that strongly influenced the band and Yuri’s writing and composition. I aim to experience the bands and players still around (most recently, I saw the Beach Boys’ fantastic show at Bergen Pac in Englewood) who impacted Kinderhook Creek and Yuri’s early recordings. Coming up is the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band and their last traditionally scheduled gig, All The Good Times: The Farewell Tour, which marks the end of multi-city runs and long bus rides.

Listen in on the Capitol Theatre story as Jerry and Yuri tell it, where the players from Nitty Gritty Dirt Band searched the dressing rooms at the Capitol for Yuri practicing Jean Luc Ponty’s New Country (1976) and being invited to jam with them on stage with Will The Circle Be Unbroken. Iconic and profoundly influential, the Nitty Gritty Dirt Band was a pivotal force in the Country Rock movement of the 1970s, a trend that shaped American Roots music. The latest Dirt Band lineup is expanded to six members for the first time since 1968. Today’s group consists of founding member Jeff Hanna, harp master Jimmie Fadden (who joined in 1966), and Bob Carpenter. Those veterans are joined by singer-songwriter-bass man Jim Photoglo, fiddle and mandolin player Ross Holmes, and Hanna’s son, the talented singer and guitarist Jaime Hanna. Recent tributes to JD Souther (who died a week after a show I was supposed to attend but at the last minute gave my ticket to a friend) and Kris Kristofferson, whose compositions and lyrics were part of the influences in the country and Americana Roots sound shows their respect for their peers and contemporaries.

This groundbreaking album has been inducted into the U.S. Library of Congress and the Grammy Hall of Fame, solidifying their place in music history. It’s something I wish for Kinderhook. Now the time has come for the band to say so long to the highways and byways they’ve crossed an unimaginable number of times throughout their career. It’s going to be an unforgettable event I plan not to miss.

On Kinderhook Street EP02, Country Rock and Arrangements, with fellow Kinderhook band member Jerry Kopychuk, the conversation continues about the seminal days fusing genres with creative arrangements of cover tunes and the instruments

Kinderhook 1970s involved that took the band to another level and playing sphere. The acoustic quartet learned the secrets of country music , flatpicking and steel guitar blends turning their music style into a primal one with lengthy introductions for copy tunes, making them their own. How do classically-trained musicians go into country music? How a start of a song “Kinderhook Creek Lullabye” gave the band their name and how it changed Ain’t No Use, a Moby Grape tune into a foot stomping, country rock whirling dervish of a tune.

Things were spontaneous, unconscious competence, as Jerry noted, making the songs their own, teasing the crowd with their unique, fun renditions. There was magic in their performances – uplifting and inspiring rhythms and stories. With an unmatched singing voice and original songwriting, Yuri explored diversity in music genres and wanted to do things that challenged him and stretched his abilities. Check out the current Kinderhook Acoustic coming to Middle Valley Cultural Center on the Kinderhook Facebook page.

Yuri’s House of Chords (YHOC) is a journey covering Yuri Turchyn’s life’s work from the Kinderhook days to his decades of personal collections and collaborations. It makes me want to hear it all over again. Follow the first tracks, follow your heart, follow the white rabbit. For more insights and extras, subscribe to the YHOC newsletter at https://yuri-turchyn-house-of-chords.beehiiv.com/. This podcast was produced by March Hare Media https://www.marchharemedia.com and recorded at Wheatsheaf Studio Productions. Opening music and closing music credit by Yuri Turchyn. https://www.yuriturchyn.com

We start at the beginning: On Kinderhook Street Episode 1, The Early Years 1973-75, delving into founding member of Kinderhook Creek, Yuri Turchyn’s voice recordings, and insights from Jerry Kopychuk, founding member and fellow bandmate. The conversation takes us to their musical influences from the 1960s and ’70s folk music, Buffalo Springfield, and the Beach Boys.

Originally an acoustic quartet, the founding members who eventually decided on who was going to play what instrument were Yuri Turchyn, lead and rhythm guitar, fiddle, and vocals; Jerry Kopychuk, lead and rhythm guitar, banjo, vocals; Andy Fediw, bass, vocals; and Stan Taylor, pedal steel. The band’s name changed from Pickleweed to Kinderhook Creek. They practiced harmonies and how to sing with one another. The influences most notably came from the Beach Boys, Pet Sounds–a seminal album of bold exploration and experimentation with sound and vocal arrangements.

In 1974, Craig Barry joined the band on drums and vocals, along with confident, lively lead guitarist Joe Breitenbach and his penchant for The Who and Led Zeppelin. Within a year, an unprecedented appearance was made as the only unsigned band to perform at the Schaefer Summer Music Festival in Central Park. On July 30th, 1975, only two years after they came together through practiced rehearsals establishing their voice, Kinderhook Creek opened for Poco before a crowd of twenty-five thousand. Their wildly successful performance increased their legendary following and popularity, especially at the Jersey Shore.

Soon after, factions began to surface.