Apalachin Community Press, August 1999

Local Musician Receives Award - Makes CD

In October, 1998, Gene Kucharski, Jr. of Owego, who grew up in Apalachin, was given the 1998 Horizon award by The New York State Country Music Hall of Fame in Cortland, New York. Gene, who uses the stage name "Gene Henry," performs as a soloist and as a member of the band New York Country.

Last summer, Gene and New York Country opened for Merle Haggard and for George Jones at concerts in Cortland at the Cortland Country Music Park. On New Year's Eve at First Night in Binghamton, Gene performed as a soloist, opening for Curb Records recording artist Trini Triggs.

As a teenager, Gene began to teach himself to play the guitar and soon learned to combine his voice, guitar skills, and lyrical ability to write and perform his own songs. He has performed across central New York and northeastern Pennsylvania as well as in Nashville. He is currently working on a CD of his own material. The CD will be out this summer.

Gene is the son of Eugene and Arlene Kucharski of Apalachin.