On Kinderhook Street EP04 Forever Fan

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.
This episode ends with a Yuri performance of New Country with Bunker Strout on guitar and the Glimmer Grass Band in 2017 –at the Stony Pony.