<< REWiND <<
Go Retro !
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About Us
Larry Ruppel
“My mother tells me that I was singing along with the radio and recognizing singers at the very early age of 2,” says Larry. His interest in recording artists, their record labels, and chart positions expanded from there into a full-blown passion for collecting vinyl, especially music from the 50s, 60s, and 70s. He frequently draws from this bank of knowledge when introducing and arranging songs for the group to perform.
Larry began taking guitar lessons at 15, but quit when he became impatient to play the music that inspired him. Playing songs by ear, he founded and performed in several bands during his teens and high school days including later, a band of teachers that continued for 23 years over the span of his 33â…“ years of high school teaching.
“For me,” says Larry, “<<REWiND<< offers the opportunity to perform and share my love for these songs with those who feel the same.”
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Linda Burgess Ruppel
Linda remembers fondly those sultry summer afternoons, walking down West Kildonan sidewalks, listening and singing along to 1950s and 60s rock and roll on her little black transistor radio. Although it has been quite a while since those childhood days, the memories, the lyrics, and their melodies come flooding right back whenever she “rewinds” and hears them again.
“It is such a pleasure for me to be performing these tunes with this wonderful group of talented people,” she enthuses.
Linda is no stranger to performance. She has an extensive background as an actor, director, and teacher of drama and theatre. But although the stage feels like home, she admits that performing as a singer is a bit of a departure and a welcome challenge for her.
“I’m having such a blast,” she says. “The music of <<REWiND<< not only brings me back, it makes me feel like a kid again!”
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Harvey Peltz
“It all started in a small 500 watt radio station in Fresno, California…actually it didn’t” quips Harvey. But then he admits, “It probably all started when my older brother brought home his first 45 record, Rhythm of the Rain by the Cascades.”
That may have been his introduction to the popular music of the 60s, but Harvey’s love and pursuit of music was encouraged at a young age by his mother, who listened to Saturday afternoon opera on CBC Radio. He started singing in his Winnipeg synagogue choir with Cantor Brownstone, and he continues to enjoy choral music to this day as a member of the University of Manitoba Bison Men’s Chorus.
Harvey and Larry met over 30 years ago when they worked at a local high school and collaborated together as members of a staff rock and roll band. Their friendship grew through their mutual love for the music of the rock, pop, and doo wop era.
“The move to create <<REWiND<< was a natural,” he says. “I’m thrilled to be bringing back the music and the memories.”
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Gloria Harris
Gloria has been singing since her preschool years. “I’ve always loved music,” she says. “I remember when I was a little girl and my mom would bring my sister and me with her to the Union Centre. I would spend the entire time beside the jukebox and people would put in quarters to listen to me sing along.”
Gloria spent her high school years at Glenlawn Collegiate, noted for its performing and fine arts programs. There she performed in as many vocal groups, bands, and drama productions as she could manage. Since then she has kept music in her life in a variety of ways, including working as a karaoke hostess and singing in rock bands with teacher colleagues. She is now thrilled to be a member of <<REWiND<<
She smiles, “Being a part of this group brings back some of the happiest memories of my life.”
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John Wrublowsky
“I cannot remember a time when music didn’t consume me,” smiles John. “In my earliest memories, I can hear the music emanating from the station wagon radio, mixed with the smoke from Dad’s pipe, while rambling down the highway to our summer vacation trailer. The destination was West Hawk Lake and I knew that every Saturday night I would be enraptured by the talents of yet another great band, as they filled Jack’s Dance Hall with their rock and roll.”
As a young man, John frequented every live performance and dance his allowance could fuel. It didn’t take him long to recognize the explosion of talent on the Winnipeg music scene. It was at the Champlain Community Club where he first stood “in reverence” and watched the finger stylings of Randy Bachman. “My fervor to learn the guitar was set alight. I had to play.”
With a little help from his friends (who shared in his devotion), along with a Vox piggy-back amp and a Kay guitar, John formed a back-lane garage band and he began playing at community clubs and school dances. His band’s unwavering infatuation with performing brought so much excitement to his youth. “Friendship and music were all we needed,” confides John. “It was what we grew from.”
Fast forward many years…”Not that many!” he is quick to add… and his family’s shared love of music is inspiring him to continue his musical journey to this day. “When I was invited to play bass for <<REWiND<< I jumped at the chance to join what was at that time a five-part vocal group that brings new life to all those vintage dance hall, record player, and car radio tunes of my youth.”
Friendship and music… John has been riding the musical wave of good times with <<REWiND<< ever since!
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Chris Wheeler
At first glance he may appear to be too young for a band that plays 50s, 60s, and even 70s rock, pop, and doo wop. A member of the Baby Boomer Echo generation, his teen years coincided with the emergence on the pop charts of “boy bands” like Boyz II Men, rappers, and hip hop videos. But don’t let first impressions fool you! With his keen ear and great sense of rhythm, Chris behind the drum kit at a <<REWiND<< performance makes perfect sense! As sound engineer for both of the band's albums, Come Go With Us! and Let's Go To The Hop!, Chris has come to know all of the <<REWiND<< repertoire like the back of his hand. “I love that music!” he enthuses. “And knowing everyone in the band and all of the fun everyone has…well, it has just made it so easy to join and blend in!”
Chris remembers his very first exposure to the iconic tunes on the band’s playlist. “My mom had these crazy old headphones that were too big for her head. I was 3 or 4 years old and my brothers and I would take turns putting on the headphones to sing along to her music.” Chris grew up with an intense passion for music of all genres and styles, but he was already in his mid-twenties when he came to try his hand at drumming. One day at his cousins’ place, he sat down at a drum kit they had set up in their basement, took a shot and enjoyed it, so he started teaching himself. Before long he was drumming for his first band Split Crooked, which featured his friend Randy on guitar and lead vocals, and his brother Jared on bass. They performed together for 5 years until they disbanded in 2014, leaving the door wide open for Chris to join <<REWiND<<
“Music is necessary for me,” Chris confides. “I couldn’t live without it. It’s like the soundtrack for my life. I drive with music; I work with music; I play music. I’m playing and I’m having fun. When you see the crowd having such a good time, everybody up dancing…it blows me away! It’s hard not to have fun when that happens!”
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Ken Hodges
At the age of 10, Ken became interested enough in music to want to play guitar, so his mother brought home a $5 guitar and the adventure began. After struggling for a year on his own he was able to start lessons, which served as the beginning of a lifelong endeavour of playing and singing for anyone who would listen. The music of entertainers such as John Denver, Harry Chapin, Cat Stevens, and Valdy became a huge influence in the development of his style of play. Then at the age of 19, what started off as a dare to go on stage with a band in a bar became the launching point for a 40-year career playing in lounges around Winnipeg, southern Ontario, and even the Grand Canyon! “In 1979,” Ken recalls, “I was asked to perform at the Centennial Concert Hall for Country Jam 79, and after playing a set of John Denver songs I was given the nickname Kenny Denver! Far out!”
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When asked by <<REWiND<< to handle the sound duties for the band, Ken was surprised and humbled at the same time. “I’m enjoying being on the other side of the microphone for a change,” he admits, “and I derive great pleasure in helping to provide the best possible sound for such an immensely talented group!”
Reflecting on where the future will take REWiND on its musical journey, Ken says, “It’s anyone’s guess. But it’s sure to be a fun ride! Hope to see you soon at a concert near you! Cheers!”
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Kasey Kurtz
It was at a Guitar Hero video game competition, at the Polo Park shopping centre in Winnipeg, that 10 year-old Kasey Kurtz invited his Uncle Larry to see him play. “He was wearing a cool Santana T-shirt,” recalls Kasey, and coincidentally Kasey was to play a Santana song in the contest. Having mastered the challenge of the video game, young Kasey found himself asking the question, “Now what?” The answer came quickly. “Do it for real!”
He had already been trained in music fundamentals, having taken piano lessons since the age of four. After the competition, Larry introduced Kasey to the guitar. Soon Kasey began formal guitar lessons. In middle school he formed a band with two of his buddies, with Kasey on guitar and vocals. They called themselves “The Minority” (after a Green Day tune), and they continued to rehearse and perform pop-punk and rock tunes, with a few originals thrown in the mix, for the next 7 years. Eventually his friends pursued careers in health care, while Kasey decided to follow his passion for music at the post-secondary level. His high school music teacher and lead trumpet player for the Winnipeg Jazz Orchestra, Jeff Johnson, sang Kasey’s praises to the professors in the jazz program at the University of Manitoba, and encouraged Kasey to audition. He was invited to enroll with enthusiasm and a full-tuition scholarship. Steve Kirby, former Director of Jazz Studies at the U of M, would later refer to him as “the next #1 jazz guitarist in Canada!”
Over his 5-year period of studies at the U of M, Kasey credits one of the best jazz guitarists in the city and his professor, Larry Roy, as his mentor and the most influential teacher, but he also cites others who have inspired him, including Wes Montgomery and Pat Metheny. He recalls being privileged to play with New York jazz pianist Christian Sands as “one of the most inspiring and memorable moments I’ve experienced." Yet given his talent and enjoyment playing jazz, Kasey still loves the 50s, 60s, 70s and 80s music in REWiND’s repertoire. “I’m really happy to get a chance to play it, rather than to just listen to it. It’s nice to be able to take out that old rock guitar!” Kasey also plays keyboards and saxophone for REWiND, and notes that maintaining proficiency on multiple instruments supports his career goal of becoming a high school band teacher.
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<<REWiND<< may be committed to reviving the so-called Oldies, but the band’s look just keeps getting younger! Especially with the introduction of our newest member, Kasey Kurtz, who has now come full circle, from playing the music of Santana on Guitar Hero to playing Black Magic Woman with <<REWiND<<. Doing it for real!
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Kenny Kurtz
At age 12, Kenny–a gifted hockey player with aspirations of making it to the professional leagues–never considered that he might one day perform professionally in a band. But fast forward a few decades and to paraphrase John Lennon: Life is what happens while you’re busy making other plans!
This is not to say that REWiND’s latest addition to the band is a novice when it comes to music. Inspired by his older brother’s performance in his junior high school band, Kenny was prompted to take up alto and later, baritone sax. Continuing to pursue hockey, he acquired a part-time job as a DJ to pay his way through university. An education in the rock and roll music of the 50s through the 80s ensued over the next six years.
At one point during his university career he joined the horn section of the Christian rock band Chalice, along with his brother Doug and close family friend Larry Ruppel. Kenny graduated from university, joined a financial consultancy firm, got married to Arliss and had a son and daughter. Although Kenny had put his saxophone aside, his son Kasey began to show a keen interest in music. Kenny watched enthralled as Kasey leapt in his musical achievements from playing keyboards at age six to graduating from the University of Manitoba with the highest accolades for jazz guitar. Watching from the sidelines, Kenny was thrilled by his son’s performances, including those as lead guitarist with REWiND. Then, impressed by his remarkable bass voice and knowing that Kenny has been a supportive fan of REWiND since its inception, Larry asked him to consider joining the band alongside his son.
Life continued to happen for everyone during the Covid-19 pandemic. But while REWiND was prevented from playing gigs, Kenny got busy learning our repertoire, including new tunes suitable for a bass singer. “I admit I was a little overwhelmed by the number of songs I’d have to learn!” Kenny confides, “but I’m definitely excited and looking forward to seeing where this all goes!”
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Wayne Lipischak
“Music has always been a part of my life,” says Wayne. “I grew up watching my Mom and Dad practice for their gigs with their band, The Red River Melodiers.” At the ripe old age of five, Wayne asked his dad to start him on the accordion, which also gave him a head start on reading music. “When I could, I would stand by our little kitchen radio and try to pick out the tunes on the keyboard side of the accordion. It took a fair bit of time to learn a tune back then because I had to wait three hours for the D.J. to play that same tune again so I could continue to learn it! I still love the accordion to this day!”
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Such commitment and love for music continued when he started taking piano lessons at age seven. At about nine years of age, Wayne’s brother got a guitar and when his brother wasn’t around, Wayne decided to give that instrument a try. Later, when his brother decided to give up the guitar for a set of drums, again Wayne was there (when brother was absent) trying his best to keep a beat. This early start in music was followed by learning the recorder in junior high school. At age 16, he took up the saxophone and learned how to “march and play at the same time!” as a member of the Royal Canadian Sea Cadets. Around this same time, Wayne started playing the organ and played in church for many years. At 19, he was asked by a good friend to join a band as a bass player. He bought his friend’s old hollow body Harmony bass, put “some serious hours on it", and played with his first band, The Fortunes for approximately three years.
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Wayne has been a music teacher for 15 years and enjoys attending band camps and fiddle camps. Did we fail to mention that he also plays the violin?! Over the years, this amazing (yet humble) multi-instrumentalist has played with many bands, and he is happy to share that he has made a lot of great friends along the way, some of whom have suggested he join them in yet another musical group. He played with The Other Side Band from Grande Pointe, Manitoba for 12 years and for The Group 5 (a Ukrainian wedding band) for over 20 years. And once again, a friend approached him in 2023 to play rhythm guitar for The Fugitives Dance Band, a touring group. “I decided to try something new - a tour across Western Canada with an ‘old time dance band,’ which was different and a lot of fun!” One of the most professional shows Wayne has ever played and, he admits, has been one of his favourite performances, is playing the piano and synthesizer for the Patsy Cline tribute group The Inclines at the state-of-the-art Entertainment Centre at the Club Regent Casino in Winnipeg.
REWiND is thrilled to welcome this dedicated and talented musician to our band family. We are confident that his performances for our audiences will join the ranks of favourites on Wayne’s diverse and remarkable musical roster!
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Gord Kudlak
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Our beloved and much-missed co-founder. Please see our Memorial page.
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Rick Hemmerling
Retired. Thank you for 7 great years!
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