IHOR (YOGI) KLOS
October 4, 1944 - May 20, 2013
Yogi was one of the original members of the D Drifters - 5 as they were then called.
Yogi was best known to his many fans and followers as Yogi, began his professional career with the D Drifters 5. One of his first full-time entertainer came when he began playing and touring with Mickey and Bunny. After several years of being their backup musicians, Yogi and the D Drifters branched out and became known as the D Drifters. With his talent and musical training, he could have easily had a successful career as a Symphony musician. But because of his tremendous showmanship abilities, he began entertaining as a career which spanned over 40 years. His mother once told him "Get a real job". We are lucky he didn't. As he probably would not have been able to emotionally touch so many people for so many years.
He had mentioned that one of his highlights of his career was to be a backup musician for the D Drifters providing for the world renowned Rusulka Dancers in England. They were part of the International Youth Orchestra.
Yogi had gone on to perform on his own and is best known for just being Yogi. He loved what he did and did what he loved. He was given the Golden Achievement Award.
After a brief illness, Ihor (Yogi) Klos passed away on May 20, 2013 at the Beausejour Hospital at the age of 68. Ihor was born in Lintz, Austria on October 4, 1944. He is predeceased by his parents Walter and Stella and always remembered by his brother Alex "Jerry", children Tammy, Melody, and Rolf; two grandsons and numerous other family members.
He was an amazing musician who played with fiery, distinctive style and his memory will live on in the music he left us. Yogi started classical training at a very young age. After a brief stint in Nashville where he would not compromise his music like they wanted him to, he left and went on to entertain thousands of people throughout Canada, the U.S and Europe, with groups to keep their beloved Ukrainian folk music alive, such as "The D- Drifters", "Mickey and Bunny", the "Rusulka Dance Ensemble", and his very own "Yogi and Friends".
He will be dearly missed by many close friends and the musical community which he greatly enriched.
A Celebration of Yogi's life was held on June 10, 2013 at the Ukrainian Canadian Veterans Legion Branch 141-618 Selkirk Ave. Winnipeg, MB. Immediately following the service and luncheon, there was an "Open mic and jam session" to celebrate Yogi's life. Musicians were encouraged to bring their instruments and partake in the celebration.
As published in the Winnipeg Free Press on June 03, 2013
Where do you start in introducing a connoisseur of Fiddle Music? Yogi Klos was not a stranger in the entertainment world. Entertaining thousands upon thousand of people through out Canada and the United States, Yogi had been featured in groups such as “Mickey & Bunny”, “The D-Drifters” and his very own group “Yogi & Friends”. His electrifying stage performance had amazed not only fellow musicians but also audiences young and old.
Yogi who started classical training at a very young age developed a unique style that would find him fiddling everything from Breakdowns, Jigs, Reels, Polkas, Waltz’s, Kolomeykas, Bluegrass, and even Pink Floyd.
IHOR (YOGI) KLOS was a legendary Ukrainian Fiddle, he played with "Mickey & Bunny" and "The D-Drifters".
