Effective period / Period of releases: 1976

Members: Jaroslaw Gudzio, Taras Didus, Jaroslaw Workewych, Tino Papa, Adrian Alboschy

Montreal's Syny Stepiv (Sons of the Steppes) are remembered today as pioneers of Ukrainian zabava music. Though Rushnychok broke onto the scene first, Syny Stepiv were a close second behind them, and many people considered the "Syny" a much more musically accomplished ensemble - in fact, possibly more accomplished than most all other zabava bands at the time!

After their first few shows, it didn't take long for Syny Stepiv to gain acclaim as their audiences began admiring their musical talents and abilities, and also falling in love with their multi-harmony vocal style. The members of the group had each developed and honed these talents while previously playing and singing with various other ensembles - in many different genres of music: folk, rock, jazz and traditional ethnic. They each brought these talents and backgrounds to Syny Stepiv and, as a group, blended them to create a fresh and inspiring sound.

As accomplished musicians, each member of Syny Stepiv was competent at a number of different musical instruments. In fact, the guys would regularly join other zabava and concert bands on stage as special guests or fill-in musicians.

At the height of their popularity, Syny Stepiv would play an exhausting number of shows each year. In 1976 alone, they played functions in New York, Newark, Yonkers, Passaic, Parma, Rochester, Detroit, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Chicago, Montreal, Ottawa, Toronto, Hamilton, and Saskatoon!

During their time together, Syny Stepiv released three albums that stand today as classics in the collective Ukrainian-Canadian music oeuvre. So esteemed were the band, that Ukrainian lyricists and songwriters would often submit musical works to the quartet with the chance hope that their songs could end up in Syny Stepiv's live or recorded repertoire!
The members of Syny Stepiv:

Adrian Alboshchy - Rhythm Guitar (v.II, & v.III)
Taras Didus - Accordion
Jaroslaw Gudzio - Rhythm & Lead Guitar (v.I, & v.III)
Tino Papa - Drums
Jaroslaw Workewych - Lead Guitar (v.I, & v.II)


(Adrian Alboshchy & Tino Papa would later go on to play in Chornomortsi and Vechirnyy Dzvin.)