Jens Book-Jenssen
Encyclopedia
Jens Peter Book-Jenssen (14 November 1910 – 28 March 1999) was a Norwegian singer of popular music, songwriter, revue artist and theatre director. From his stage debut in the early 1930s, his career included radio and television work, recordings, and extensive touring. His career spanned more than sixty years, and he was the top selling record artist in Norway in the 20th century.
as the son of gardener Olaf Jenssen and Pauline Book. He grew up at the farm Store Stabekk. He married Gerd Kværnberg in 1936. Book-Jenssen was often informally referred to as "Book'n" or "Booken" in the press.
in Oslo in 1933. As a revue artist he first performed on Scala Teater, and later on Chat Noir
in Oslo. He started his recording career in 1933, and made about 400 recordings between 1934 and 1945. Among his hits during this period were songs such as "Når lysene tennes der hjemme", "En liten gyllen ring" and "De lyse netters melodi". He also wrote song lyrics, under the pseudonym Peter Coob. From the mid-1930s until 1973, he toured the country with his shows, and according to his own estimate he travelled the distance from Oslo
to Kirkenes
at least a hundred times.
Book-Jenssen was awarded the Spellemannprisen
honorary award in 1972
, and was also decorated with the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav and HM The King's Medal of Merit
. His last television appearance was in connection with his 85-year anniversary, when he was celebrated in a show on the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation by a wide array of Norwegian artists. He died on 28 March 1999, and was buried from a capacity church in Haslum
, Bærum
.
Personal life
Book-Jenssen was born in BærumBærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
as the son of gardener Olaf Jenssen and Pauline Book. He grew up at the farm Store Stabekk. He married Gerd Kværnberg in 1936. Book-Jenssen was often informally referred to as "Book'n" or "Booken" in the press.
1930s and 1940s
He made his stage debut at Det Nye TeaterOslo Nye Teater
Oslo Nye Teater in Oslo is one of Norway's most visited theatres.The theatre opened in 1959 as a merge between Det Nye Teater and Folketeatret, and consists of four stages; Oslo Nye Hovedscenen, Oslo Nye Centralteatret, Oslo Nye Trikkestallen and Oslo Nye Caféscenen.-External links:*...
in Oslo in 1933. As a revue artist he first performed on Scala Teater, and later on Chat Noir
Chat Noir
Chat Noir is a cabaret and revue theatre in Oslo, Norway. It was established in 1912 by Bokken Lasson. The current director is Tom Sterri.-Establishment:...
in Oslo. He started his recording career in 1933, and made about 400 recordings between 1934 and 1945. Among his hits during this period were songs such as "Når lysene tennes der hjemme", "En liten gyllen ring" and "De lyse netters melodi". He also wrote song lyrics, under the pseudonym Peter Coob. From the mid-1930s until 1973, he toured the country with his shows, and according to his own estimate he travelled the distance from Oslo
Oslo
Oslo is a municipality, as well as the capital and most populous city in Norway. As a municipality , it was established on 1 January 1838. Founded around 1048 by King Harald III of Norway, the city was largely destroyed by fire in 1624. The city was moved under the reign of Denmark–Norway's King...
to Kirkenes
Kirkenes
is a town in the municipality of Sør-Varanger in the county of Finnmark in the far northeast of Norway...
at least a hundred times.
Post war
Book-Jenssen was the director of the revue theatre Chat Noir in Oslo from 1947 to 1950, and from 1954 to 1959. In 1972 he founded Bookn's Teater. Among his post-war song recordings are "Gudskjelovkvelden" from 1949, and "Når kastanjene blomstrer i Bygdø Allé" in 1950 and again in 1956 when it became a hit. Other popular songs were "Skjærsliperen" (1956) and "Norge i rødt, hvitt og blått" (1963). He made about 150 recordings for the record company NERA from 1946 to 1958, and about forty recordings for the record company HMV between 1958 and 1965. During his career he made more than ninety national tours, and also toured European countries with his revue ensemble. In the 1970s he contributed to a series of radio programs, by singing and telling stories from his career. Already in the mid-1950s he became the first Norwegian artist to sell over one million records. He later came to be the top record selling musician in Norway in the 20th century, with a conservative estimate of more than two million sold items. According to other estimates, the number was over three and a half million.Book-Jenssen was awarded the Spellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen
Spellemannprisen is an award presented to Norwegian musicians for their contributions.-Operation:The award was established on the initiative of International Federation of the Phonographic Industry , an organization that represents the interests of the recording industry worldwide...
honorary award in 1972
Spellemannprisen 1972
Spellemannprisen 1972 was awarded on Saturday 3 March 1973 at Chateau Neuf in Oslo. This was the very first time Spellemannprisen was awarded and there were 7 winners, and 3 additional special awards. Composer Egil Monn-Iversen and the musical Bør Børson Jr. got the jury's honorary award as the...
, and was also decorated with the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav and HM The King's Medal of Merit
HM The King's Medal of Merit
The King's Medal of Merit is a Norwegian award. It was instituted in 1908 to reward meritorious achievements in the fields of art, science, business and public service. It is divided in two classes: gold and silver. The medal in gold is rewarded for extraordinary achievements of importance to the...
. His last television appearance was in connection with his 85-year anniversary, when he was celebrated in a show on the Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation by a wide array of Norwegian artists. He died on 28 March 1999, and was buried from a capacity church in Haslum
Haslum
Haslum is a district in the municipality of Bærum, Norway. Its population is 6,041. Haslum is noted for its medieval parish church, which is surrounded by a cemetery.-References:...
, Bærum
Bærum
is a municipality in Akershus county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Sandvika. Bærum was established as a municipality on 1 January 1838. A suburb of Oslo, Bærum is located on the west coast of the city....
.