Finnish music stars died at age 75
Here are 15 famous musicians from Finland died at 75:
Frans Eemil Sillanpää
Frans Eemil Sillanpää (September 16, 1888 Hämeenkyrö-June 3, 1964 Helsinki) also known as Frans Eemil Sillanpaa or Taata was a Finnish writer, novelist and composer. His children are Saara Sillanpää, Esko Sillanpää, Helmi Sillanpää, Paula Sillanpää, Eero Sillanpää, Juhani Sillanpää, Heikki Sillanpää and Kristiina Sillanpää.
Sillanpää was the first Finnish writer to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1939 for his novel "Meek Heritage". He was known for his realistic portrayal of rural life in Finland and his works often explored themes such as poverty, social injustice, and the human connection with nature. Sillanpää also worked as a journalist and was involved in politics, serving as a member of parliament for the Finnish Social Democratic Party. In addition to his literary accomplishments, he was also a composer and his work included songs and choral music. Sillanpää's legacy lives on in his literary works, which are still widely read and studied in Finland today.
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Georg Schnéevoigt
Georg Schnéevoigt (November 8, 1872 Vyborg-November 28, 1947 Malmö Municipality) a.k.a. Georg Schneevoigt was a Finnish conductor.
His discography includes: .
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Arvo Viitanen
Arvo Viitanen (April 12, 1924 Uurainen-April 28, 1999 Anjalankoski) was a Finnish personality.
He was a journalist, author, and politician who played a vital role in Finnish and international politics. Viitanen was a member of the Finnish Parliament and served as the Minister of Education and the Minister of Social Affairs and Health. He was also a member of the European Parliament from 1973 to 1983.
Viitanen began his career as a journalist for various newspapers such as Kansan Lehti and Uusi Suomi. He gained fame and recognition for his investigative work, which exposed corruption within Finnish society. He also authored several books on social issues and the welfare state.
Apart from his political and journalistic work, Viitanen was also active in various international organizations. He served as the President of the Nordic Council in 1980 and was a member of the European Parliament's delegation to the United Nations.
Despite his many accomplishments, Viitanen remained humble and dedicated to helping others throughout his life. He was a respected figure in Finnish society and is remembered as a great advocate for social justice and human rights.
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Olavi Alakulppi
Olavi Alakulppi (July 17, 1915-August 19, 1990) was a Finnish personality. He had one child, Vesa Juhani Alakulppi.
Olavi Alakulppi was a well-known Finnish actor, director, and theatre entrepreneur. He was born on July 17, 1915, in Helsinki, Finland. Alakulppi began his career in theatre in the 1930s and soon became a successful actor in both theatre and film. He starred in many popular Finnish movies, including "Tuntematon sotilas" (The Unknown Soldier), "Kulkurin valssi" (The Vagabond's Waltz), and "Kultainen vasikka" (The Golden Calf).
In the 1940s, Alakulppi also started directing and producing plays. He founded his own theatre company in 1953, which he ran until 1980 when he retired. Under his direction, his company produced many successful plays, and Alakulppi himself directed several plays. He also translated and adapted foreign plays for Finnish audiences.
Alakulppi was a versatile artist with many talents, and in addition to his work in theatre and film, he was also a writer and a painter. He was awarded the Finnish honorary title of professor in 1979 for his contributions to Finnish culture. Olavi Alakulppi passed away on August 19, 1990, leaving behind a rich legacy of Finnish theatre and film.
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Armas Launis
Armas Launis (April 22, 1884 Hämeenlinna-August 7, 1959 Nice) was a Finnish personality.
He was a composer, conductor, and musician who played a significant role in the development of Finnish music. Launis studied at the Helsinki Music Institute and later in Berlin and Vienna.
He is best known for his choral works, including "Finlandia hymn," which he arranged from a larger work by his teacher Jean Sibelius. Launis also composed several operas, ballets, and orchestral pieces, as well as numerous songs.
Besides his musical career, Launis was also active in politics, serving as a Member of Parliament for the Agrarian League from 1926 to 1933. He was also a founder and the first chairman of the Finnish Composers' Society.
Launis spent his last years in Nice, France, where he died in 1959 at the age of 75. His legacy lives on in the numerous Finnish choral societies and music institutions that he founded or helped establish, as well as in the many recordings and performances of his music that continue to this day.
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Sulo Bärlund
Sulo Bärlund (April 15, 1910 Kangasala-April 13, 1986 Kangasala) was a Finnish personality.
He gained notoriety in Finland as a poet, folk musician and actor. Bärlund was particularly renowned for his distinctly Finnish style that drew influences from Kalevala, an epic poem that is central to Finnish culture. He began his acting career in the 1940s and won praise for his performances in many plays, most of which were written by himself. As a musician, Bärlund was a master of the kantele, a traditional Finnish string instrument. He toured extensively and recorded several albums, which showcased his exceptional talent. Bärlund's poetry was also widely acclaimed, with his verses featuring in many popular Finnish publications. He received numerous awards for his contributions to Finnish culture, and his work remains an integral component of the country's artistic heritage.
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Julius Skutnabb
Julius Skutnabb (June 12, 1889 Helsinki-February 26, 1965 Helsinki) was a Finnish speed skater.
He won multiple national championships in the early 1900s and competed internationally, representing Finland at the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France. Skutnabb was known for his technical prowess and smooth, efficient style of skating. He later became a coach and continued to influence Finnish speed skating as it grew into one of the country's most successful sports. Outside of skating, Skutnabb worked as a postal worker and was an active member of his local community.
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Gustav Elfving
Gustav Elfving (June 25, 1908 Helsinki-March 25, 1984 Helsinki) was a Finnish mathematician and statistician.
He earned his doctorate in mathematics in 1935 from the University of Helsinki and continued to teach at the university for the remainder of his career. Elfving's research focused on statistical theory and its applications, with a specialty in distribution theory. He is best known for his work on the "power function" and its use in hypothesis testing. Elfving played a prominent role in the Finnish mathematical community, serving as the president of the Finnish Mathematical Society and as an editor for its journal. In addition to his academic work, Elfving was an athlete, competing in both the Olympics and World Championships as a sprinter for Finland in the 1930s.
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Esko Elstelä
Esko Elstelä (November 15, 1931 Pori-September 30, 2007 Helsinki) was a Finnish screenwriter, television director, actor and film director.
Elstelä is best known for his contributions to the Finnish film industry in the 1960s and 1970s. He made his directorial debut in 1960 with the film "Tähtisumua" and went on to direct several popular films such as "Pekka ja Pätkä neekereinä" and "Kiljusen herrasväki". In addition to his work in film, Elstelä also worked as a screenwriter for television programs and wrote over 70 radio plays. He was awarded the Pro Finlandia medal in 1991 for his contributions to Finnish culture.
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Hans Wind
Hans Wind (July 30, 1919 Ekenäs, Finland-July 24, 1995 Tampere) was a Finnish personality.
He was a well-known radio and TV presenter, journalist, and author in Finland. Throughout his career, he hosted various programs, including talk shows, news broadcasts, and music shows. Wind was also widely recognized for his contributions in promoting traditional Finnish music and culture across the country. He wrote several books on Finnish history, culture, and music, which gained widespread recognition and appreciation. Besides his professional work, Wind served as the chairman of the Finnish Musicians’ Union and played a crucial role in advocating for musicians' rights and welfare in the country. His work and contributions to Finnish culture earned him numerous awards and honors, including the Pro Finlandia medal in 1985.
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Erik Heinrichs
Erik Heinrichs (July 21, 1890 Helsinki-November 16, 1965 Helsinki) also known as Axel Erik Heinrichs was a Finnish personality.
He was a linguist, author, and translator. Heinrichs was fluent in multiple languages including Finnish, Swedish, German, French, English, and Russian. He was particularly known for his translations of Russian literature into Finnish. Heinrichs also wrote several books on language and linguistics. He was one of the founding members of the Finnish Society of Translators and Interpreters. In addition to his work in language, Heinrichs was also a member of the Finnish parliament for the Swedish People's Party, serving from 1929 to 1930. He was awarded the Order of the Lion of Finland for his significant contributions to Finnish culture and society.
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Ernst Linder
Ernst Linder (April 25, 1868 Pohja-September 14, 1943 Stockholm) also known as Ernst de Linder was a Finnish personality.
He was a linguist, poet, translator and scholar of literature. Linder was fluent in several languages including Finnish, Swedish, French, German and Russian. He is best known for his translations of French poetry into Finnish, particularly his translation of Charles Baudelaire's "Les Fleurs du mal" which is considered to be a masterpiece of Finnish translation. Linder was also an active member of the Finnish literary society and a contributor to several literary journals. He received the Order of the Lion of Finland in 1935 for his contributions to Finnish culture.
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Hillevi Lagerstam
Hillevi Lagerstam (August 9, 1923 Kurikka-October 21, 1998 Helsinki) a.k.a. Mary Hillevi Lagerstam was a Finnish actor.
She began her acting career in the 1940s after studying at the Helsinki Theater Academy. Lagerstam was known for her versatile acting skills, and appeared in numerous theatre productions, films, and television shows throughout her career. She was particularly popular in the 1950s and 1960s, starring in films such as "Siltalan Pehtoori" (1953) and "Suuri sävelparaati" (1961). Lagerstam also received critical acclaim for her performances in plays like Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire" and Shakespeare's "Hamlet". In addition to her acting work, Hillevi Lagerstam was a trailblazer for women in the Finnish film industry, serving on the board of directors for the Finnish Film Foundation as the first woman to hold the position. She passed away in Helsinki in 1998 at the age of 75.
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Pauli Toivonen
Pauli Toivonen (August 22, 1929 Jyväskylä-February 14, 2005 Espoo) was a Finnish race car driver. He had one child, Henri Toivonen.
Pauli Toivonen was a notable race car driver who represented Finnish racing in international competitions. He began his career in rallying during the early 1950s and competed in several major rallies such as the Monte Carlo Rally, the RAC Rally, and the 1000 Lakes Rally. He was particularly successful in the 1000 Lakes Rally, which he won on three separate occasions in 1962, 1964, and 1966.
Toivonen was also known for his technical knowledge when it came to cars, and he worked with different manufacturers to refine their cars for rally racing. His knowledge and expertise earned him several roles in rallies, where he served as a driving instructor or as an organizer.
In addition to his success in rally racing, Toivonen was also involved in circuit racing and competed in the Finnish Grand Prix, Finnish Racing Championship, and others. Unfortunately, his professional racing career came to an abrupt end after a severe crash during the 1967 Monte Carlo Rally, which left him with a broken neck and caused paralysis in his legs.
Despite the accident, Toivonen continued to be involved in motorsports and was a respected figure in the racing community. His son, Henri Toivonen, also followed in his footsteps and became a well-known rally driver. Pauli Toivonen remains a celebrated figure in Finnish motorsports history.
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Ansa Ikonen
Ansa Ikonen (December 19, 1913 Saint Petersburg-May 23, 1989 Helsinki) also known as Aili Ansa Inkeri Ikonen was a Finnish actor. She had two children, Marjatta Rinne and Katriina Rinne.
Her albums: .
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