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| Early Kinderhook Creek promo photo |
Kinderhook Creek was a popular New Jersey country rock band in the 1970s and 80s. They kind of created a live bar band market for country rock music in the Jersey/NY club scene. They had a devoted following of fans that literally followed them from gig to gig.
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| Early Kinderhook Creek press photo |
They may not be well known nationally, but Kinderhook Creek (later shortened to just Kinderhook) was a band I knew well. Jerry Kopychuk (banjo, guitar, lead vocals) was a friend in high school and we both went to Rutgers College. There I met bass player Andy Fediw and I recall acoustic sessions in our Tinsley dormitory with a rotating group of other students.
They were serious enough about music in 1973 to leave school for a time and give the music business a full-time chance.
The other founding members were Yuri Turchyn on guitar, violin, and vocals and Stan Taylor on pedal steel guitar. Craig Barry came on later on the drums and when the rest of us were graduating a few years later, Joe Breittenbach was added on lead guitar.
They played a regular circuit of venues (most of which are now gone) including The Wooden Nickel, Widow Brown's, The Gypsy, The Final Exam, Dodds Crest, Dodds Orange, Creations, The Beach House, the famed Stone Pony, the Royal Manor, Baby-O's, and The Joint In The Woods.
They later opened for The Flying Burrito Brothers
, Conway Twitty, Pure Prairie League, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Outlaws, Richie Havens, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Commander Cody, Poco, and others in larger venues.
The word "kinderhook" might be Dutch for “children on a hill” but the founding band members have Ukrainian roots and Kinderhook Creek was a popular place for Ukrainians in New York state (near Albany) and hence the name was chosen.
Though a record contract and national tour eluded them, they played six nights a week for almost nine years and were arguably the top-drawing band in the state.
Kinderhook was the only unrecorded act to play at the Central Park Schaefer Music Festival (1975), opening for Poco before 25,000 people.
They were serious enough about music in 1973 to leave school for a time and give the music business a full-time chance.
The other founding members were Yuri Turchyn on guitar, violin, and vocals and Stan Taylor on pedal steel guitar. Craig Barry came on later on the drums and when the rest of us were graduating a few years later, Joe Breittenbach was added on lead guitar.
They played a regular circuit of venues (most of which are now gone) including The Wooden Nickel, Widow Brown's, The Gypsy, The Final Exam, Dodds Crest, Dodds Orange, Creations, The Beach House, the famed Stone Pony, the Royal Manor, Baby-O's, and The Joint In The Woods.
They later opened for The Flying Burrito Brothers
, Conway Twitty, Pure Prairie League, Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, The Outlaws, Richie Havens, New Riders of the Purple Sage, Commander Cody, Poco, and others in larger venues.The word "kinderhook" might be Dutch for “children on a hill” but the founding band members have Ukrainian roots and Kinderhook Creek was a popular place for Ukrainians in New York state (near Albany) and hence the name was chosen.
Though a record contract and national tour eluded them, they played six nights a week for almost nine years and were arguably the top-drawing band in the state.
Kinderhook was the only unrecorded act to play at the Central Park Schaefer Music Festival (1975), opening for Poco
before 25,000 people.They reunited in 2010 and are playing gigs in New Jersey.
The current band lineup (with occasional guest players) is Jerry Kopychuk - Vocals and acoustic guitar, Andy Fediw - Bass, Craig Barry - Drums, Jim Ryan - Pedal Steel, Gary Oleyar - Fiddle and guitar and Jack Kurlansik - Electric Guitar
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| Kinderhook 2010 Photo: Christina Kotlar |
Kinderhook at The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ 9-20-13
An Empty Bottle, A Broken Heart & You're Still on My Mind; Still Feeling Blue; Diggy Liggy Lo
- Official Kinderhook Website
- See Kinderhook on Facebook for news and upcoming shows.
- Here is a video of the reunited Kinderhook performing in March 2010 in New Jersey on a bill with the New Riders of the Purple Sage. Lineup: Yuri Turchyn, Craig Barry, Andy Fediw, Jerry Kopychuk, John Greenaway and John Korba. Video by Christina Kotlar.
Post updated August 2022
was licensed to the label for US distribution. Watts left the band at this time to start his own project, 
, was released in 1976 and points to the band's name origin. The Young brothers said they came up with the name after their older sister noticed the initials "AC/DC" on a sewing machine and they knew it had something to do with power, which seemed appropriate. thought it had something to do with power. It does mean "alternating current/direct current." The band used it, not realizing it was also slang for bisexual. The band claims NOT to be bisexual. They also denies that it stands for Against Christ/Devil's Children.
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