The Zydeco Trail Riders

ZTR relaxing in a forest of green.
ZTR relaxing in a forest of green.

The Zydeco Trail Riders, formed in 2004, have performed predominantly in upstate New York at regional festivals and at nightclubs, wineries and eateries. The band is led by Greg Grodem, on vocals and accordions, with Gary Graeff on guitar, Ted Oberhaus on bass, Stuart Krasnoff on drums, and Kyle Wickings on rubboard.

ZTR rocking.
ZTR rocking.

Greg Grodem

Greg Grodem Greg Grodem first started playing music 60 years ago while taking lessons on his Mom’s Hawaiian Lap Steel guitar. He now plays Blues on acoustic and steel guitar. He started playing accordion in the early 1990s after hearing Cajun music. He always looks forward to playing music with family and friends.

Ted Oberhaus

Ted Oberhaus Ted Oberhaus has played a wide variety of music in many different bands for over 40 years. He’s been with the Trail Riders more than 10 years playing bass as well as guitar. “We make a lot of friends playing in this band and I look forward to having fun playing for them another 10 years “

Gary Graeff

Gary Graeff I grew up in Louisiana and have been playing music for about 50 years in all its many forms. I play guitar, mandolin, bass (electric and acoustic), piano and drums. Zydeco is one of my favorites because it is purely dance music and the dancers embody the spirit of the music. It’s pure magic to connect with a dancing group of people.

Kraz (short for Krasnoff, short for Krasovitzky)

Kyle Wickings I moved to Ithaca in 1965 from my native Philadelphia and I’ve been playing in bands ever since. I joined ZTR as their drummer in 2014 and haven’t had as much fun since the early 1970’s when I was backing up local legends Bernie Milton and, later, the Del Royals, and discovered the joys of playing for a roomful of dancers.

Kyle Wickings

Kyle Wickings Kyle Wickings plays the rubboard and triangle with the Zydeco Trail Riders. He also plays clawhammer banjo and rhythm guitar and loves jamming to old time music with his family. When not scratching metal for ZTR, Kyle works as an entomologist at Cornell University.