Ihor Poklad has died: a genius of Ukrainian pop music and Hero of Ukraine

Famous Ukrainian composer and Hero of Ukraine Ihor Poklad died at the age of 83.

The news of his death was announced by his wife Svitlana, writing a touching message on social media: “That’s all. I loved, I love and I will always love. Please pray for Igor Dmitrovich, for his immortal soul.”

His musical works have become a true legacy for several generations of Ukrainian performers and have become firmly embedded in the culture of the country. Songs to Poklad’s music, including such hits as “Oh, the Wild Geese Were Flying”, “Mama, the Evening Is Over”, “The Violin Is Playing”, “Water Flows” and “Green Maple”, have long been considered folk and have accompanied the lives of Ukrainians for decades.

Igor Dmytrovych was born in Kyrgyzstan into a military family, but since the late 1950s the family has lived in Ukraine, in Ternopil. From childhood, music became his calling – he studied at the Glier Music School, and later at the Kyiv State Conservatory at the composition faculty.

Already during his studies, Igor began to create songs, in particular, based on poems by the poet Boris Oliynyk. The first joint work was “Pisnya ne gybyutsya”. In the late 1960s, Poklad founded the vocal-instrumental ensemble “Mriya”, which gained popularity at all-Union music competitions. However, service in the army suspended his concert activities.

It was in the army orchestra that Ihor met the young poet Yuriy Rybchinsky. Their collaboration became a lifelong creative alliance – together they created over 150 songs that have become beloved by many generations. Poklad’s works also include works with other poets and authors, including Oleksandr Vrataryov, Vadym Kryshchenko, Dmytro Lutsenko, and Mykhailo Tkach.

His songs were performed by legendary singers — Sofia Rotaru, Vasyl Zinkevych, Nina Matvienko, and many others. The composer created not only Ukrainian-language hits, but also famous Russian-language compositions that were performed on the grandest stages of the former USSR.

Over more than three decades of creative activity, Poklad wrote music for dozens of operettas and musicals. In addition, he worked in cinema – the first director he collaborated with was Leonid Bykov. In total, Igor Poklad’s music was heard in more than 40 films. However, the composer often regretted that he refused to create a soundtrack for Bykov’s cult film “Some Old Men Go to Battle.”

Ihor Poklad left behind a huge legacy that will forever remain in the hearts of Ukrainians and the country’s musical history.

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