Finnish Folklore

Olavi Virta (originally to 1926 Oskari Olavi Ilmen) (27 February 1915, Sysmä - 14 July 1972, Tampere) was a Finnish singer, acclaimed as the king of Finnish tango[1]. Between 1939 and 1966 he recorded almost 600 songs, many of which are classics of Finnish popular music, and appeared in many films and theatrical productions. Of his most acclaimed tangos are "Punatukkaiselle tytölleni", "Ennen kuolemaa" and "Täysikuu," while standouts from his other popular music are "Poika varjoisalta kujalta", "Hopeinen kuu", "Eva" and "Kultainen nuoruus." He was also the second tenor of the quartet Kipparikvartetti in the early 1950s. At the beginning of his career he received three gold records for the songs "Ennen kuolemaa", "Tulisuudelma" and "La Cumparsita". Olavi Virta's career was cut short by a scandalous arrest for drunken driving in 1962, after which the press mockingly called him "The Singing Meatball." Ten years later he succumbed to alcoholism, living his final years in poverty..................................................... ............................................................ ............................................................ ................................Eino Valtanen (19 August 1939,Kylmäkoski - 24 july 1985,Tampere) was a popular Finnish singer,his songs appeard in the 70..s on the Finnhits compiles.The biggest hit was "No justiinsa juu" from 1978(More to come)....................................................... ............................................................ ............................................................ ................................Erkki Junkkarinen (22 April 1929 Suonenjoki - 9 April 2008 Hämeenlinna) Finnish singer.He gained popularity 1950 when he recorded "Yksinäinen harmoniikka" after couple of years the popularity went down and during the 60..s he only recorded one record "Ruusut hopeamaljassa" and the sales were low.In the year of 1975 he recorded the same song this time named "Ruusuja hopeamaljassa" from witch he received the first Finnish Platina album ever,after that his popularity had no limits and the Tango wave in the late 70..s gave him wind under his wings.New decade,old story,the 80..s came and it was down hills and he stopped recording but continued to perfom.He is also a great whistler. The first popular music song contest ever in Finland took place in 1950 at the "Työväentalossa" (Workershouse) in Helsinki and the audience voted Erkki Junkkarinen from Lauritsala as the "King of popular music"...................................................... ............................................................ ............................................................ ................................. Arttu Suuntala (18.February 1920,Luumäki-10.December 1999 Turku) was a finnish musician and actor.Suuntala toured Finland and recorded many songs by other finnish musicians. Suuntalas great friends were among others musician/actors Esa Pakarinen and Masa Niemi(more of them later) Suuntala has also performed in totally 122 songs a.o Saarijärven polkka and Viipurin polkka.Even though he was known mainly as a musician he also acted in about 50 movies and mainly acted a musician but also other characters. In Suuntalas last movie he acted as a police officer,the name of the movie is "Vodkaa,komisario Palmu" by Matti Kassila. Arttu was a member for 6,5 years in the variety theatre "Punainen mylly" (Red mill) wich was located in Helsinki between 1946-1965. In the mid 60..s he produced and hosted a popular radio show called "Vetikkaa silmäkulmassa" (Teary eye) were he told stories like the title of the show prenounces in a humorous and light way,mostly stories of music from the 1930..s and 1940..s(war times in Finland) and played records from that time and sometimes very rare ones........................................................ ............................................................ ............................................................ .................................(Wikipedia)