Михайло Купніцький - Michael Kupnicky and his Orchestra - Ukrainian Waltz - Chaban - UFM CANADA

Михайло Купніцький та його оркестр - Michael Kupnicky and his Orchestra
00:00 - Ukrainian Waltz - Український вальс
02:50 - Czaban - Чабан
Ukrainian Folk Melodies, CANADA

UKRAINIAN WALTZ
by MICHAEL KUPNICKY AND HIS ORCHESTRA
U. F. M. (AR-46A)
UKRAINIAN FOLK MELODIES
78rpm, Waltz
Language English
Performer: MICHAEL KUPNICKY AND HIS ORCHESTRA
Matrix number: AR-46A
Catalog number: AR-46A
UKRAINIAN FOLK MELODIES; Ukrainian Instrumental.

CZABAN
by MICHAEL KUPNICKY AND HIS ORCHESTRA
U. F. M. (AR-46B)
78rpm, Folk
Performer: MICHAEL KUPNICKY AND HIS ORCHESTRA
UKRAINIAN FOLK MELODIES; Ukrainian Instrumental.
Matrix number: AR-46B
Catalog number: AR-46B


Biography of Mike Kupnytsky

Mike Kupnytsky was born in 1918 in the small town of Port Hope, Ontario, already filled with a deep, instinctive love for music. From early childhood he took a violin into his hands, and that instrument became his lifelong passion and true calling. Mike pursued mastery tirelessly — for him, learning and practice knew no limits. The violin was his first and everlasting love.

As a young man, he followed in his father’s footsteps and took a job at a factory. Like many of his peers from the Durham region, Mike found steady work at General Motors. Yet behind the factory walls lived his true self — the musician. He performed in dance bands and Ukrainian ensembles, not only earning a livelihood but, more importantly, keeping music alive within his heart.

In the early 1950s, Mike became the leader of the popular summer venue, the Edgewater Pavilion in Bobcaygeon, nestled in Ontario’s picturesque cottage country. Each summer, the hall filled to capacity with locals and visitors alike, and its stage welcomed touring bands from across Canada. For Mike, these years became a formative chapter, shaping him both as an organizer and as a performer.

His wide-ranging musical experience — from mastering numerous instruments to presenting live shows — eventually led him to create a business of his own. This is how ALTO Music came to life in Oshawa. The name was chosen deliberately: “Alto” would place the store at the very top of the telephone listings. During its first week, the shop earned only seven dollars, but perseverance and a genuine love of music carried it forward. Over the years, ALTO Music grew into a well-known cultural hub — a place not only to buy instruments or take lessons, but to find understanding, encouragement, and community.

Family and friends remember that Mike was, above all else, a musician. If a band couldn’t pay after a gig, he simply allowed them to settle later. His shop became a gathering place for creative people, where spontaneous jazz sessions would often erupt right between the displays.

As the business flourished, ALTO Music expanded and moved to Simcoe Street, where Mike opened two stores. Visitors were amazed by his ability to play virtually any instrument he picked up — piano, accordion, organ, clarinet, guitar, double bass, and, of course, the violin.

His love for Ukrainian music found a special outlet in the creation of his own label, Alto Records. In the 1950s and early 1960s, he recorded and produced orchestral works in Oshawa, releasing six 78-rpm records and two full-length albums. Mike not only produced these recordings, but performed on them as well. He often played at Ukrainian weddings and earned recognition as the first violinist of the orchestra that would eventually become known as the Ontario Philharmonic.

After three decades in the music business, Mike sought a new chapter. In 1986, he sold ALTO Music to Long & McQuade and moved to Florida. There, too, he continued to make music — performing with The Florida Orchestra and giving his final years to the art he loved most.

Mike Kupnytsky passed away in 1997, leaving behind more than memories. He left a living legacy — a vibrant tradition of music and a boundless passion he generously shared with all who crossed his path.


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