In Memory

Gary Alan Kopinsky

Gary Alan Kopinsky

Gary played drums for Windfield Rush, Saddle Boogie, Heist and Good Question


Gary Alan Kopinsky, age 31, of Lehi, died Sunday, September 30, 1990 of injuries suffered in an automobile accident.

Born December 1, 1958 in Lehi to Michael John and Norene Felt Kopinsky. Married Kerri Joy Losee, February 15, 1979 in Lehi. Member of the LDS Church and lived in the Lehi 16th Ward. He attended schools in Lehi and the Utah Valley Community College. He played football for Lehi High School and was a dedicated BYU Fan. He began playing drums in the 7th Grade and developed in to an accomplished musician. The groups he played with performed in the most of the Western States, as well as throughout Utah. He took great pride in his talents and particularly in groups that backed up nationally known performers such as "Charlie Daniels", "Don Williams", and "George Strait". He also was a skilled woodworker. He had been employed at Tooele Army Depot for the past 10 years and has been a foreman since 1983. He loved the out of doors, hunting, fishing and camping in the mountains. He was a devote family man, who loved his wife and children dearly. He was a caring, sensitive person who was loved by all he came in contact with. We will miss him dearly.Survived by wife, Kerri, Lehi; one daughter, Necia and one son, Joshua, parents, Michael John and Norene Felt Kopinsky, Lehi; one brother, John C. Kopinsky, Lehi.


Gary Played with Danny Larsen in Winfield Rush

 

Gary Kopinsky (far left, back row), drummer with Saddle Boogie

 



 
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10/11/11 02:17 PM #1    

Billy Brown

 I grew up with Gary starting with Kindergarten in 1964.  We were best friends growing up.  He took to the drums in 6th grade, and became a natural.  While stll in Jr. High, he was sought after as as a drummer for adult bands.  We started our band "Heist" in 8th grade and played together all through school, and used Herb Davis on drums when Gary was busy with "Raintree" or "Winfield Rush."

 

He went on to play headlining and supporting shows for mainly Chris Ledoux and Saddle Boogie, but in 1988 he decided to hook up again with us school buddies and we formed "Good Question."  It was a very surreal year and a half for us guys in that band, and Gary and I became closer than we had ever been.  He was my "road partner" in the band, and we were like brothers off stage.  His death was so sudden....a total shock.  It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do when I spoke at his funeral.  It's been 21 years since his death, and I'm still feeling the loss.  He was a great and gifted drummer...loved by all who knew him....but he was a friend and brother.  His family has also felt the loss.....I still correspond with his daughter Necia and his son Josh, whom I'm happy to report has taken up the drums, being very gifted on them like his Dad.  We had the honor of Josh sitting in with us in a recent Good Question gig....and there we were....the original band with the original drummer's son....it was surreal and very emotional for me.  Josh's posture and playing style were similar to Gary's.....and I felt Gary right there with us.

 

I miss my friend.  Thanks for putting up this site to keep his memory alive.


03/14/12 05:36 PM #2    

John "Croppy" Crookston

Gary and I played in Midnight special together for about 3 years and together in saddle boogie for about two. His birthday was the day before mine and we shared alot of musical birthdasy togeter. To this day I miss gary. Love ya man
Crop

06/07/12 12:13 PM #3    

Brent Mendenhall

Its been a long time...Danny Larsen and I hired Gary to play with us in Winfield Rush. In the following years, Gary was a mainstay in the band. While a few keyboard players and bass players came and went. We traveled all over the west and played a number of high school and college hops, stomps and proms all over Utah. Gary certainly kept things interesting!! One memory-among many- is that Gary hated when Danny and I would call a "band meeting" to discuss some problem we percieved that needed correction. While we would detail the issue and proposed solution, Gary would lay in front of his kit, with his head inside his bass drum, on the pillow he kept there. Once I noticed...I'd ask him what he thought of what we were saying. He'd reach around the bass drum and hit the pedal. We had a ton of fun and played a bunch of great gigs with Gary. When I heard he'd died, we'd been out of touch for quite a whiile. But it really hit me hard. He was a brother in many ways. I'll always miss him.  


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