By Andy Furman
NKyTribune staff writer
The roadblocks were monumental. Yet Stephen Popovich was not deterred. Never. Not once.
“I was fascinated by it,” he told the Northern Kentucky Tribune. “And, I started at a very young age.”
It was when he was four years old to be exact. “My Godfather/Uncle and mom and dad bought me a little drum set for Christmas.”
He knew then – he wanted to be a performer.
“In fifth-grade,” he recalled, “I was playing drums on Clorox bottles.”
And the following year – in sixth grade — well, in sixth grade he crossed the first of several hurdles.
“I attended St. Joseph Grade School in Cold Spring,” he said. “We didn’t have a band program.”
Not a problem for young Stephen Popovich.
“I’ll never forget this,” he promised, “I met a gentleman through St. Joe’s – his name was, well it was Fred C. He reminded me of the man in the Music Man. Very well groomed, and always in a suit. He tutored me with my music.
“My brother (Mark) helped me buy my first drum — a snare drum – and Fred was my guiding light.”
That led to the Velvatones – a Rock ‘n Roll band.
“I played my eighth-grade party,” he proudly says. “In fact, we got our first paid gig that year – in a basement party. We split a total of twenty-eight dollars after the guests passed the hat.”
Next stop for Popovich – Newport Catholic High School – same problems – love of music – no music program.
“I learned on my own — and practiced a lot.”
Finally, it was time for, gulp, lessons
“It was my senior year,” he said, “Jack Volk, the drummer on the Bob Braun Show was my teacher. I drove to Kenwood for my lessons. And, I finally learned how to read music.”
But – it was, well, a bit too late – obstacle Number Two.
“I applied to the University of Kentucky Music School in 1972,” he said, “but was denied at first because, well, I couldn’t really read music, or had a proficiency in orchestral instruments.”
Remember — he attended a Catholic school, where there was no band program.
Popovich literally begged UK to give him a chance.
“They did,” he said. “They gave me the opportunity to catch-up on six years of education which their admissions counselor said would be no way to get caught-up that quickly.
“I submitted a cassette tape; but I just played the drums and the Admissions Officer at UK sent it back.”
Oh, there’s more – he drove to Lexington with his mom – with the rejection letter. I just wanted a chance – And, the rest is history.”
He practiced sometimes four or five hours-a-day and was a finally accepted into the music school, and after his fifth year was awarded the first-ever percussionist scholarship into the UK Orchestra.
“All college music scholarships were given to string players,” he said, “and you can’t find a string player in Kentucky unless he’s playing a fiddle.”
Fast forward to last Christmas eve.
“It was one of the best Christmas gifts I ever got,” he said. Popovich got a call from John Mendell, the Director of the Northern Kentucky Music Legends Hall of Fame.
He made it. But, how did Mendell hear of Popovich?
“He (Mendell) used to watch me perform, in the Florence Community Band. This is the biggest honor in my life – it’s the cumulation of all other smaller ones.”
On Thursday, June 11th Popovich – along with six other performers —will be inducted in the shrine as a first-time classical symphonic Timpani/percussionist.
“Mendell broke the glass ceiling and thought the scope or genre should be opened to other non-traditional artistic achievements,” Popovich said. In the past, the performing musicians were typically only considered if they played in the genre of rock, bluegrass, country or folk.
Popovich said he’ll be accompanied by a brass ensemble which will hopefully turn some heads on induction night.
The Northern Kentucky Music Legends Hall of Fame honors local musicians, broadcasters, and music industry figures. Founded in 2013, it hosts an annual induction ceremony and free concert at Tower Park Amphitheatre in Fort Thomas, Kentucky, at 6 p.m.
Joining Stephen Popovich on stage: Mark Cormican, Wayne Luessen, Ben Walz, Danny Sidebottom, Doghouse, and Mike Reeder.
So how did Stephen Popovich end-up with all those gigs and finally in the Hall of Fame?
“Well,” he said, “even if you have the talent, you must still have the courage.”
He has both in abundance.
