By Cathy Miller

Kinderhook Creek (later shortened to Kinderhook) became a top-drawing band in New Jersey during the 1970s and ’80s. They played six nights a week for nearly nine years. Despite the immense popularity of the band, they remained “the greatest unsigned Jersey band of the ’70s,” according to Jerry Kopychuk, Kinderhook’s guitarist, banjo player, and vocalist.

I recently took a trip down memory lane with the musician, traversing more than four decades in one hour.

The Man

First, a few things about Mr. Kopychuk. Jerry is Jersey born (Belleville) and bred, currently residing in Mansfield. He is a licensed life and health insurance broker with a focus on Medicare and seniors. He enjoys all the arts, but especially music. He loves food. Italian is his favorite but also likes Asian Fusion. He also has been known to enjoy blackberry brandy, which he has shared with Conway Twitty and Joan Jett. Regarding the ongoing, heated debate, when queried about his favorite pizza joint, he cited–without hesitation–Three Brothers Pizza in Seaside Heights.

The Influence

Jerry’s mother listened to country and western music, but when the Beatles hit our shores in the early 1960s, Jerry decided he “had to have a guitar,” which he learned himself. Jerry teamed with his good childhood friend, Andy Fediw (Kinderhook’s bassist), to play music. Inspired by popular music of the time, they played Simon & Garfunkel’s “Sounds of Silence” at their first public musical performance, at their high school hootenanny.

In the early 1970s, the buddies met the Byrds at the classic rock band’s concert at Seton Hall. Of that chance encounter, Jerry marveled, “Somehow or other, we didn’t get kicked out, and we got to hang with the Byrds!” They didn’t know that some day, they would share the same music scene.

A short time later, as roommates at Rutgers, Jerry and Andy became paid musicians, hired as wandering minstrels at Tico Taco on Route 22 in Green Brook. They played for tips, serenading diners with folk songs.

A Band is Formed

The original members of Kinderhook Creek, which officially began in 1973, were Jerry Kopychuk on guitar, banjo, and vocals, Andy Fediw on bass guitar, Yuri Turchyn on violin, and Stan Taylor on pedal steel guitar. Drummer Craig Barry and guitarist Joe Breitenbach were enlisted some time after. Over time Yuri, Stan, and Joe departed the group.

They began playing covers, which they “totally bastardized” to make their own, but it wasn’t long before they started writing their own songs.

“We may not have been as polished as anyone else, but we were definitely original,” said Jerry.

They quickly earned a loyal following with their brand of country rock music featuring three-part harmonies and a varied mix of instrumentation. They guaranteed a packed house for the many regional venues they regularly played, which included The Wooden Nickel (North Brunswick), The Gypsy (Long Valley), The Final Exam (Randolph), Creation (West Orange), The Beach House (Point Pleasant Beach), The Stone Pony (Asbury Park), and others.

They also played multiple times at Six Flags Great Adventures. There, they opened for the Bellamy Brothers (the country duo known for their hit, “Let Your Love Flow”) and a band they’d never heard of, which turned out to be Alabama, just before they hit it big.

They’ve also shared the stage with such luminaries as The Byrds, Don McLean, The Flying Burrito Brothers, Pure Prairie League, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Outlaws, Richie Havens, Dickey Betts, John Prine, Orleans, David Bromberg, Seals and Crofts, Harry Chapin and more.

They continued to grow in popularity and notoriety and, in 1975, Kinderhook Creek became the only unsigned, unrecorded act to play the Central Park Schaefer Music Festival, opening for Poco to 25,000 people, and receiving a standing ovation.

A Reunion … and Another …

Kinderhook Creek disbanded in 1982, as a result of the changing local music scene. They played once in 1998 and then reunited again for a cancer benefit in 1999, which garnered them an overwhelming response. In 2010, they were asked to open for the New Riders of the Purple Sage, luring fans from as far as Florida.

They began to reconsider their “retirement,” which led to shows throughout the state and enabling them to catch up with their original fans while acquiring scores of new ones.

“We were just messing around, and all of a sudden we were being successful,” Jerry quipped, both surprised and humbled. Successful indeed.

Welcome to 2019

Jerry laughed, “Not in a million years did I expect to still be playing. Now that our responsibilities are gone, we can be kids again.” He recalled, “Last time we played at Bernie’s (Hillside Lounge in Chester), about 25% of the crowd was 20-somethings, and they came up to say how much they enjoyed the band. It’s really validating.”

Kinderhook Creek is now just Kinderhook, but many of its members remain the same. Original members Jerry, Andy and Craig have been joined by Jimmy Ryan on pedal steel guitar and Jack Kurlansik on guitar. Gary Oleyar plays violin with the band when he’s available.

At the outset, Kinderhook’s home base was New Brunswick, since they all attended Rutgers. Back then, they used to practice five, six, even seven times a week. Nowadays, they get together for a weekly rehearsal as often as possible, partly because it keeps the music fresh, but also because they really enjoy each other’s company.

In February 2019, 45 years after their debut, the band’s first studio album Kinderhook was celebrated at a sold-out record release party at McLoone’s in Asbury Park. Most of the songs are originals, with a few covers, including one by the Louvin Brothers, and another by Commander Cody.

Kinderhook will open for Commander Cody on Saturday, March 23, at Vasa Park, Budd Lake (Morris County). Local country western fave Kevin DeFeo will get things started. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and music starts 7:15.

When it comes to the people and happenings of Warren County, you can count on award-winning photographer Cathy Miller to be there to record the moment.

Bonus Fun Fact for Reading ‘Til the End

After Kinderhook’s first lead guitarist left, they began auditioning guitar players. One fellow who tried out was good, but not the style they were looking for. He ended up having a #1 hit that same year. The song was “Someday Someway” and the artist was Marshall Crenshaw!