Tuesday, March 11, 2008

Hats Off To Roy Mykytyshyn

It's quite unfortunate when a person, especially someone who has entertained many passes away and it seems that nobody remembers them for their accomplishments. A few months ago, I was surprised to find that Roy Mykytyshyn passed away (1945-2006). I found out just by doing a random search on Google.

Roy was a comedian / musician who put out records sometime in the 1970s that was mostly aimed at those who spoke Ukrainian. My grandmother was such a person and owned quite a few of Roy's records, many of which I listened to when I was a young boy. I enjoy all kinds of music, and listening to my grandmother's records was something for me to do while we were visiting her even though I couldn't understand nor speak a word of Ukrainian.

After finding almost nothing on the web except for a mention from a local legion and a brief obituary, I decided that I should put something up. Here are some photos, the obituary I found (which is no longer up) and some of his music. If I could recommend only one song, it would be the Hop Hop Car Song.

If you would like to contribute your memories of Roy, please add a comment.

I'll be putting all of his works up for download. If I'm violating copyright by putting his music here, please let me know and I will take it down. As far as I know, NONE of Roy's music is available on Compact Disc, or is currently in print (with the possible exception of "A Night Out With Roy") If you're looking for official copies of his albums, they pop up on Ebay occasionally.

    

ROY MYKYTYSHYN October 24, 2006 In loving memory of my husband and father. One year ago today, you were taken away from us, We think of you in silence and speak to you and say your name. You memory is our keepsake God has you in His keeping, We have you in our hearts. - Sadly missed and loved, your wife Betty and family.




Discography


Roy Mykytyshyn Sets Your Heart On Fire With Old And New Ukrainian Songs
Reissue: A Night Out With Roy
(download MP3)
(download WAV)
SVLP 3070 


Tracks (New titles for "Night Out With Roy" album in brackets):

01) New Canadian Kolomeyka
02) Freedom Of Ukraine
03) V-Waltz (Pepper's Waltz)
04) Screwball Polka
05) A Long Time From Home
06) Tzeexo-Tzeexo Kolomeyka
07) Don't Cry Mama
08) Hop Hop Car Story
09) Picking Flowers
10) Veceelna Kolomeyka
11) It's Not Your Girl Polka
12) S.O.B. (Wedding Bliss Song)

Comments: Roy's first album and probably my most favorite. The mix is good, the songs are unique and interesting, and the Hop Hop Car Song is amusing for anyone! However, I'm convinced that the original pressings of this album were done with a defective master disc since every copy I've heard is full of noise in the same places.



Marriage & Married Life Ukrainian Style
(download MP3)
(download WAV)
SVLP 3090


Voices: Roy Mykytyshyn, Lillian Sumka, Stefie Sumka
Violin: Ann Kraichy
Accordian: Adam Lukow
Tenor Sax: Don Kraichy
Lead Guitar: Steven Groshak
Rhythm Guitar: Earnie Gentes
Drummer: Bob Kraichy

Tracks:

01) Wedding March Intro
02) Getting Ready For Wedding
03) Their Kolomayka
04) Problems and More Problems
05) Father's Wedding Kolomayka
06) Father and Daughter Disagreement On Choice Of Groom
07) Wedding March
08) Getting Ready For Presentation
09) Father & Mother Sing Their Presentation Song
10) Beer Kolomayka
11) Mother My Mother Song
12) More Presentation Song Ending Wedding
13) Married Troubles
14) Ann Play A Polka For Father
15) Kolomayka The Good Old Days For Father
16) More Problems
17) Finis Kolomayka

Comments: Never been much of a favorite of mine, likely due to the poor production work on this album. The mix could have been a lot better.



Divorce Ukrainian Style
(download MP3)

(download WAV)
SVLP 3097


Voices: Roy Mykytyshyn, Lillian Sumka, Stephie Sumka
Violin: Ann Kraichy
Accordian: Adam Lukow
Drums: Ernie Bandura
Tenor Sax: Don Kraichy
Rhythm Guitar: Earnie Gentes

Tracks:

01) Family Problems Song
02) Family Troubles
03) Winnipeg Travelling Kolomayka
04) Phoning The Lawyer
05) Old Country Was Better Than Here
06) This Country Was Better Than Old Country
07) Phoning Girl Friend
08) The Farmer's Song
09) Girls Shopping
10) Ann's Kolomayka
11) Northend Liquor Store
12) Just How You Leave Me
13) Maxin's Phone Call To Mother
14) Maxin's Good Time At The Bar
15) A Polka For Mother
16) Girls Shopping For Maxin's
17) Maxin's Song For Family Inlaws
18) Finish Kolomayka For More???
19) Ending Polka

Comments: Great album all around, one of my favorites. Excellent production work makes it an enjoyable listen.



Silver 25th Wedding Anniversary Ukrainian-ski Style (download MP3)
(download WAV)
SVLP 3115 


Tracks:

01) Kolomayka
02) Getting Ready For The 25th
03) Oh My Wife, What Are you Good For?
04) Introduction Speech For 25th For The Couple
05) Anniversary Waltz Song
06) Anniversary Waltz Dance
07) Twenty-Fifth Groom's Speech
08) Let's Get Together And Dance All Night
09) Lucky, Unlucky Times For The Wife
10) I Remember , I Wish I Wasn't Born
11) I know I know About Ukrainian Festival
12) National Festival
13) Bad Times For The Groom 25 Years
14) Good Times On The Farm
15) I'm Leaving You Old Woman - A Young One Wants Me
16) Good Times Downtown Boys
17) I'll Think And Drink But You Keep Quiet
18) It's Always Best At Home

Comments: Another great album with fantastic production. This one's a bit hard to find.



Christening Ukrainian Style
(download MP3)
(download WAV)
SVLP 3121
 

Tracks:

01) Getting Ready for Christening
02) Anne My Love
03) Going To Church
04) Adam's Rib
05) Coming Back to Cars
06) Thanking Song for Super Kid
07) Les & Roy's Party Song
08) Superkid's Thanks for Christening
09) Look At Yourself Dear Waltz
10) My Love My Wife
11) Making Home Brew - Parts 1-2-3 and 4
12) My Dream About Heaven
13) The Baseball Game
14) I Don't Give A Dam
15) Born A Fool
16) Moon Over The Forest

Comments: Probably the most bizarre album of them all, but very nice production work. This seems to be the hardest one to find.



Anne Kraichy - Musical Gems
(download MP3)
(download WAV)
OTC-2018


Tracks:

01) Krakowiak
02) Oberek
03) Bachelor Polka
04) Violin Tango
05) Polish Polka
06) Westphalia Waltz
07) Can't Refuse This Polka
08) Golden Dance Medley
09) Longing For You Tango
10) Blondie Polka
11) Memory Waltz Medley
12) Favourite Butterfly Dance

Comments: Anne Kraichy played the fiddle on Roy's albums. This is one of her solo albums, released on Ollytone Records. From the look of the professional packaging, my guess is it was released on cassette only. According to a reader, she has another solo album (Kozachok) released on V-Records. If I find it, I will post it as well.

26 comments:

waltermyk said...

Wow, what an awesome tribute to a great man. Roy Mykytyshyn was my uncle and I was fortunate to spend much of my life with him. He was such an entertainer and could put a smile on anyone's face. He was definately one of the biggest influences in my life. I saw him perform many times in many places in both Manitoba and Ontario. I will pass this blog on to others and hope to return soon myself with a story or two.
THANK-YOU Ben Century!!

Anonymous said...

had the pleasure of working with and getting to know "Uncle" Roy.
Wow what a humorous and talanted man. Sadly missed!!!!!

Anonymous said...

I got to work and travel with "uncle" Roy. Along with his wife and my friend Betty. Sadly missed . i remember the hokey pokey song cracked us all up!!!!!

love ya Fayski xoxo

Anonymous said...

I was Roy's grand-daughter.. I live in Ontario and never got to spend much time with him but I have some of his music on cd's and listen to it from time to time.. We used to sing together all the time.. Great to see that other's know of his music.

Unknown said...

Could you get more tracks posted? I have the "Divorce" record but none of the others ... great stuff!

Anonymous said...

Thank-you for your kind tribute to my father Roy Mykytyshyn.Its been three years today;my father left us he was born november 18 1928- an past-away october 24 2006he is missed oh so much an not a day passes we dont think of him. thank-you ann-marie mykytyshyn

Anonymous said...

I have been listening to Roy for many years now,there is also Christening Ukrainian Style,I have the 3 cassettes Diorce,Marriage and Christening their all very good glad to have found this site thanks.

Anonymous said...

I played music in a pub-band/Wedding Band in the 70's in the Peg. I met him many times and shared many happy stories with him. I last seen him in Wpg for a winter Ukr Festival called Zemovay about 2005-2006 approx. He was there as he was inducted into the Ukrainian Musicians Hall of Fame! He had a most gracious acceptance speech along with some gut wrenching jokes that I cannot remember 100% so I won't include them in this posting. God Bless Roy.. Don Bilinski of Regina, Sask

Anonymous said...

want the full rip thanks

Ben Century said...

Full rip of which one? The Divorce one is already up.

Anonymous said...

WANT THE FULL RIP ON Silver 25th Wedding Anniversary Ukrainian-ski Style. THANKS

mama5993 said...

thank you 4 remembering my father.

A.R. said...

Thank you very much for Roy Mykytyshyn albums!

Could you please upload the rest of three albums?

Thanks in advance!

P.S. Is it ever possible that you have the albums not only in mp3, but also in some lossless format (like wav or flac)? If not, mp3 would be fine!

Jack said...

Thank you so much!
Thanks to you, recognized this artist, I'm sorry for my english.

Велике спасибі!
Завдяки Вам, упізнав цього виконавця, вибачте за мою англійську.

Jack said...

Thank you so much!
Thanks to you, recognized this artist, I'm sorry for my english.

Ben Century said...

I'm hoping to get the other albums up by the end of the week, and I can certainly provide a lossless format.

Jack said...

It would be a wonderful gift, grateful for the previously!

A.R. said...

Thanks in advance!

Ben Century said...

Would anybody want Anne Kraichy's album available too? She played the fiddle on Roy's albums.

A.R. said...

Thank you very much for all those great albums!

Looking forward to get them in lossless too.

And yes, it would be great to listen to Anne Kraichy's solo album! I have found on Google a mention about her album "Kozachok" (VLP 3080) - do you have this one?

Ben Century said...

Everything's up! All the MP3s, the new copy of the Silver 25th album, and the Anne Kraichy album. Lots of work putting it all here, but I've had enough requests to warrant it.

Jack said...

Ben Century, Thank you so much for the work done, very good quality!
The album Anne Kraichy - Musical Gems, great!
If you want to listen to Ukrainian performers, the tracker http://toloka.hurtom.com will help in this.

with respect Gienek_Lwow

A.R. said...

Thank you very much!!!

The quality is really good.

Is it possible you have some other rare Canadian-Ukrainian records you would like to share? :)

Ben Century said...

I have a small collection of Peter Hnatiuk albums that I may post in the future.

A.R. said...

Ok! Thanks in advance :)

Jason said...

peI was totally amazed to see these albums and information about Roy Mykykyshyn on this blog. I grew up listenening to these records as a child as my parents played them all the time. They helped me learn ukrainian which I still speak until this day.