Kari Tapio
Encyclopedia
Kari Tapani Jalkanen better known by his stage name Kari Tapio, was a Finnish schlager
and country & western singer. He was one of the most popular singers in Finland for decades, selling over 826,000 certified records during his career and posthumously.
Tapio was born in Suonenjoki
, Finland
. In the 1960s Tapio performed in his home town Pieksämäki
with the local bands ER-Quartet and Jami & The Noisemakers. In 1966 he took singing lessons from Ture Ara.
After his first single "Tuuli kääntyköön"/"Niskavuoren nuorimmainen" in 1972 Kari Tapio performed in Ilkka "Danny" Lipsanen's
show. In the beginning his role was to take care of the snake
that was used in the show. Before music became a job for him Kari Tapio worked as a typesetter in a printing house.
In 1976 Tapio finally broke through with his single "Laula kanssain" (a Finnish cover of "Sing My Lovesong") which was followed by "Viisitoista kesää" (a Finnish cover of Living Next Door to Alice
) and "Kaipuu" ("Desire"). In later years "Olen suomalainen" ("I am Finnish", a Finnish cover of Toto Cutugno
's "L'Italiano"), "Myrskyn jälkeen" ("After the Storm"), "En pyydä paljon" ("I Don't Ask For Much") and the newest "Paalupaikka" ("Pole Position"), among others, have been his most popular songs. In 2003 the Iskelmä-Finlandia award was given to him.
Many of Tapio's songs have influences from country music
. He has done lots of Finnish versions of the songs of Johnny Cash
, Waylon Jennings
and Kris Kristoffersson.
Tapio was one of the candidates to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008
with the song "Valaise yö". In the finals, he was placed second, and Teräsbetoni
was chosen to represent Finland.
Tapio died of a heart attack in Espoo
, Finland.
Schlager
Schlager music is a style of popular music prevalent in Central and Northern Europe and the Balkans and also in France and Poland. In Portugal, it was adapted and became pimba music...
and country & western singer. He was one of the most popular singers in Finland for decades, selling over 826,000 certified records during his career and posthumously.
Tapio was born in Suonenjoki
Suonenjoki
Suonenjoki is a town and municipality of Finland.Suonenjoki is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Northern Savonia region. The town has a population of and covers an area of ofwhich is water. The population density is....
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
. In the 1960s Tapio performed in his home town Pieksämäki
Pieksämäki
Pieksämäki is a town and municipality of Finland. Its original name was Haukivuori .It is located in the province of Eastern Finland and is part of the Southern Savonia region.The town has a population of and covers an area of of which is water...
with the local bands ER-Quartet and Jami & The Noisemakers. In 1966 he took singing lessons from Ture Ara.
After his first single "Tuuli kääntyköön"/"Niskavuoren nuorimmainen" in 1972 Kari Tapio performed in Ilkka "Danny" Lipsanen's
Ilkka Lipsanen
Ilkka Johannes Lipsanen , also known as Danny, is a Finnish singer and guitarist. He started his career with the band Islanders who released a couple of singles, among them Danny's first recording which was in English: East Virginia by Joan Baez in 1964...
show. In the beginning his role was to take care of the snake
Snake
Snakes are elongate, legless, carnivorous reptiles of the suborder Serpentes that can be distinguished from legless lizards by their lack of eyelids and external ears. Like all squamates, snakes are ectothermic, amniote vertebrates covered in overlapping scales...
that was used in the show. Before music became a job for him Kari Tapio worked as a typesetter in a printing house.
In 1976 Tapio finally broke through with his single "Laula kanssain" (a Finnish cover of "Sing My Lovesong") which was followed by "Viisitoista kesää" (a Finnish cover of Living Next Door to Alice
Living Next Door to Alice
"Living Next Door to Alice" is a song co-written by Nicky Chinn and Mike Chapman. Originally released by the Australian vocal harmony trio New World in 1972, the song charted at # 35 on the Australian chart...
) and "Kaipuu" ("Desire"). In later years "Olen suomalainen" ("I am Finnish", a Finnish cover of Toto Cutugno
Toto Cutugno
Salvatore "Toto" Cutugno is an Italian pop singer-songwriter and musician.-Biography:Toto Cutugno was born in Fosdinovo, Tuscany, to a Sicilian father and a Tuscan mother. Shortly after his birth the family moved to La Spezia ....
's "L'Italiano"), "Myrskyn jälkeen" ("After the Storm"), "En pyydä paljon" ("I Don't Ask For Much") and the newest "Paalupaikka" ("Pole Position"), among others, have been his most popular songs. In 2003 the Iskelmä-Finlandia award was given to him.
Many of Tapio's songs have influences from country music
Country music
Country music is a popular American musical style that began in the rural Southern United States in the 1920s. It takes its roots from Western cowboy and folk music...
. He has done lots of Finnish versions of the songs of Johnny Cash
Johnny Cash
John R. "Johnny" Cash was an American singer-songwriter, actor, and author, who has been called one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century...
, Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
and Kris Kristoffersson.
Tapio was one of the candidates to represent Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest 2008
Eurovision Song Contest 2008
The Eurovision Song Contest 2008 was the 53rd edition of the Contest. It was hosted in Belgrade, Serbia after Marija Šerifović won the 2007 Contest in Helsinki, Finland. This year was the first contest to have two semi-finals which were held on 20 and 22 May, and the final held on 24 May 2008...
with the song "Valaise yö". In the finals, he was placed second, and Teräsbetoni
Teräsbetoni
Teräsbetoni is a Finnish heavy metal band. Their first album, Metallitotuus was released in 2005 and has so far sold more than 32,000 copies. Teräsbetoni has been strongly influenced by bands such as Manowar...
was chosen to represent Finland.
Tapio died of a heart attack in Espoo
Espoo
Espoo is the second largest city and municipality in Finland. The population of the city of Espoo is . It is part of the Helsinki Metropolitan Area along with the cities of Helsinki, Vantaa, and Kauniainen. Espoo shares its eastern border with Helsinki and Vantaa, while enclosing Kauniainen....
, Finland.
Albums
- Aikapommi (1974) (with Erkki Liikanen)
- Nostalgiaa (1976)
- Klabbi (1976)
- Kaipuu (1977)
- Kari Tapio (1979)
- Jää vierellein (1981)
- Olen suomalainen (1983)
- Ovi elämään (1984)
- Osa minusta (1986)
- Elämän viulut (1987)
- Tää kaipuu (1988)
- Aikaan täysikuun (1990)
- Yön tuuli vain (1992)
- Sinitaikaa (1993)
- Laulaja (1994)
- Myrskyn jälkeen (1995) #23
- Meren kuisketta (1997) #9
- Sinut tulen aina muistamaan (1998) #7
- Valoon päin (1999) #5
- Bella Capri (2000) #6
- Kari Tapio konserttilavalla (2001) #30
- Joulun tarina (2001)
- Juna kulkee (2003) #4
- Toiset on luotuja kulkemaan (2004) #5
- Paalupaikka (2005) #5
- Kuin taivaisiin (2007) #1
- Kaksi maailmaa (March 26, 2008)
Compilations
- 28 suosituinta levytystä (1987)
- Toivotut (1992)
- Viisitoista kesää (1995)
- 20 suosikkia – Olen suomalainen (1995)
- 20 suosikkia – Luoksesi Tukholmaan (1997)
- Parhaat (1997)
- Kaikki parhaat (1999) #2
- 20 suosikkia – Kulkurin kyyneleet (2001)
- 20 suosikkia – Sanoit liian paljon (2001)
- Kaikkien aikojen parhaat – 40 klassikkoa (2002) #17
- Nostalgia (2005)
- Lauluja rakkaudesta (2006) #13
- Laulaja 1945-2010 (2011) #1