Don Klossner
(1935-2025 )
Inducted 2006
Donnie Klossner attempted to play his father’s button accordion at an early age. He then received a double-reed concertina and took lessons from Ray Miedl, a music teacher and store owner in New Ulm. Donnie gained his experience playing with veteran musicians at bars, dances, and home parties. He played with The Babe Wagner Band from 1955 to 1969, where he learned to arrange music for a complete band as well as for the concertina. After 1969, Klossner and wife Carolyn and others formed The Don Klossner Band, performing for over 16 years. After all of his experience he formed Musik Mit Hertz, a one-man band using midi-electronics calling it “the heart of my one-man band.” Donnie continued to play his European-style music, combined with the music of the Territory Bands he had performed with at various events around Southern Minnesota.
