Walt Churchey and Jackie Kopco are two people with a shared passion: playing great music. Walt & Jackie share an affinity for songwriting that goes well beyond the years they have known each other. Though very different artistically, the unexpected blending of the sweet sound of Jackie’s melodic music with the rough-around-the-edges gruffness that Walt masterfully delivers is surprisingly fresh and delectable.

2016 marked a standout year for the duo. After seven years of hard work playing in local music venues, private parties and festivals, the people in the Johnstown area have grown to know and love them. Their popularity has earned them the title of the Johnstown Tribune Democrat’s 2016 Simply the Best Entertainers. The unexpected honor came on the heels of an exciting booking for the Pittsburgh Penguins Foundation Annual Wine Tasting Gala at the PPG Paints Arena. The duo got offered the job on site at a luau party at the Windber Country Club where the director of the foundation saw their performance. They felt extremely honored to perform on the floor of the PPG Paints Arena for a crowd that included Pittsburgh Penguins head coach and several of his players.

Finally, the event that topped the year for Walt & Jackie was a headlining show at the Pasquerilla Performing Arts Center in Johnstown. The show was the next natural step for the duo after their annual holiday show doubled in size three years in a row. “It was an absolute blast,” said Churchey, “and the stage felt like home.” The show was a huge success, and drew a crowd of approximately 700 fans. It was the duo’s first real opportunity to put on a full show and it came together perfectly. Other highlights of the year included returning to Johnstown’s Roxbury Bandshell concert series, performing their “Hot August Night” show at the SongWorks concert series at the Grand Halle, playing at Portage Area Summerfest, and providing featured entertainment at the Johnstown Symphony Orchestra’s wine tasting fundraiser event.