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CHRIS YAKOPCIC – THE REAL HIDDEN GEM

By Lawrence Lebo

Midwest (USA) native Chris Yakopcic is a fingerstyle acoustic blues
guitarist, vocalist, and songwriter inspired by pre-war delta and

Piedmont style blues. His high energy thumb-bass picking
patterns are reminiscent of the work of Robert Johnson, Bill
Broonzy, and Blind Blake, and are executed as well as did they!

O v e r
the years Chris
has racked up quite a few
awards and recognitions. In January

2015, he was a finalist in the 31st
International Blues Challenge (IBC) in
Memphis, TN. He has qualified for the IBC
four times after winning various regional
competitions.

On March 30, 2023, Chris recorded his
third album live at the Hidden Gem Music
Club in Centerville, Ohio, appropriately
titled “Live At The Hidden Gem”. The disc

contains 12 tunes, six of which are
originals. It was released in September of
2023, and was awarded Best Self-
Produced CD, 2024 at the January 2024
International Blues Challenge

Chris shines performing live in front of an
audience. He’s an apt and comfortable
storyteller. His original tunes are clever
and well crafted. On story-song track 3,

‘When It All Goes Wrong At Once’ Chris
coyly writes; “... Well I think their guns are
loaded but I know my whiskey’s drugged,
‘cause I know what it tastes like “When It
All Goes Wrong At Once”. “Live At The
Hidden Gem”captures Chris at his best. If
you haven’t heard this hidden gem I highly recommend you do!

I asked Chris Yakopcic to tell us about himself and his latest release “Live At The Hidden Gem”.
This is what he told me ...

LL: Let’s start at the beginning, shall we! Where did you grow up and what was your family
like please?

CY: I grew up in Pittsburgh, PA, a little North of the city. My dad was an electrical engineer and
my mom worked in education, I don’t have any brothers or sisters. My parents have always been