Still Rockin' - 40 years later, Hubbard man sees royalties from music

Still rockin'

Owner of Underdog Records plays guitar, sells vinyl

By John Stran

Youngstown State University

 

OPEN. “When I feel like getting here.”

CLOSED. “When I’m not here, or I am someplace else.”

This is the sign that is posted on the front window of “Underdog Records,” a record store that has withstood the demise and now the resurgence of vinyl.

In a phrase, this sign describes the store and the man who owns - and runs it  - Ronnie Hopchek. At 63 and divorced Hopchek now does what he loves most - plays guitar. He has a very raspy voice that’s nearly unmistakable. He is bald, except for some fringe on the sides and back of his head. He wears a pair of glasses that with his balding head, give him a wise look.

Mother, Lena, of Italian decent, and his father, Michael, of Slovak decent gave birth to Ronnie on April 4^th, 1951, at St. Elizabeth’s Hospital in Youngstown. They disagreed on one thing as Ronnie got older. The problem was whether he should work. His mother thought that it would help Ronnie become a mature young adult. His father thought otherwise.

He told him that as soon as you work, you work for the rest of your life. His father also told Ronnie something else that he will never forget. “He showed me one of his pay checks. It was a bonus check,” Ronnie said. “Don’t tell your mom about the extra money. The more I give her, the more she spends.” Ronnie said laughing.

When he was 13, Ronnie decided to do something other than work. He started to learn how to play guitar. He took music lessons at the former Dusi’s Music. Just a few years later, in 1966, he started his first band. The other band members were his neighbors. Their music could compare to the early British rock groups that Ronnie loved – They had soft rock rifts and catchy lyrics. The band made an album, “Mystify Me,” that never quite took off, until now that is. Forty years after the album dropped, they are now starting to see profits. Oddly enough, they are seeing profits in Japan. “It’s amazing. I’m making more money from it 40 years later.”

The band kept on rocking. Even as Ronnie graduated high school. With a diploma from East High School, he was ready to start his college career. Ronnie attended Youngstown State University for two years when he decided to drop out. Initially, he was just going to take some time off but then decided not to return. “They asked me to leave for a quarter and I decided not to go back.” Ronnie said. “I guess you’re supposed to have good grades or something.”

The Todds started traveling and frequently found themselves in New York. While there, he played in places such as the Peacock Lounge and Snug Harbor. “We never opened up for anyone famous, except for a man named Buzzy Linehart who played vibes for Jimi Hendrix.”

In 1975, the band decided to split. To make it official, the band sold all of their equipment, Leaving Ronnie with $2,000. He decided to invest this money into a business. A prime example of when one door closes, another opens. He bought a little store on South Avenue, in Youngstown. He named it Underdog Records. “If you started with $2,000 dollars you would be an underdog too. Right?”

Ronnie still runs the record store. He says that it’s not difficult at all to run a business. “It’s not so bad if you don’t care about money.” He said jokingly. “I’m just doing what I love so why stop?”

He has now moved Underdog Records to Hubbard, and says that record sales are surprisingly good. “The records aren’t selling like they were in the 70’s, but they still bring in a good profit. I actually sell more records then I do CD’s.”

Besides keeping the record store running, Ronnie has also continued to play guitar. He has played for numerous bands since “The Todd.” The most notable is Sacksville Rhythm and Blues. A legendary local band who has opened up for the likes of NRBQ, Magic Slim, and Bob Dylan. “I Remember meeting Magic Slim. He was a very big guy,” Ronnie said.

“The night I opened up for him a guy walked up to me and handed me a bag of coke. The bag was big enough for me and my band, but we weren’t into that shit. Magic was known to be big on coke and normally didn’t like to preform unless he had it. I walked up to him and set the bag down in front of him. He cautiously looked around. I told him that everything was cool. He took the whole bag and shoved it right into his nose. I couldn’t believe it. That was enough coke for our whole band.”  

Through all the madness and the good times, Ronnie can think of no better time than when his daughter was born. Alex was born in December 1986, and is soon approaching her 28^th birthday. Another person that is close to him is his best friend Daryl. If Ronnie isn’t at the shop, you can usually find him catching up with Daryl at Panera Bread.

Ronnie can also be seen playing at many local bars and restaurants. He usually doesn’t  schedule any performances. He just usually plays when he feels the time is right. But whenever he plays, or whatever genre he is playing. He plays only one way. With soul.

 

This is a link To Ronnie’s band Sacksville Rhythm and Blues. (Ronnie is the lead singer.)

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Produced for Journalism as Literature Class at YSU, Fall 2014. For more information or to use this story, contact Professor Alyssa Lenhoff at ajlenhoff@ysu.edu