Kurt Foss
Encyclopedia
Kurt Foss was a Norwegian
composer
, singer and vaudeville
artist.
He was born in Bergen
, and together with Reidar Bøe Kurt Foss created the hugely popular duo "Radiofantomene" ("The Radio Phantoms") that was active throughout the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Their biggest success was the song "Blåveispiken
" ("The Liverwort Girl") with lyrics by Arne Paasche Aasen
and which was released in 1950 selling 100,000 records. They later produced humorous songs and tender vise
s, among these were "Tre yndige små mus" ("Three Cute Little Mice") in 1950, composed by Kristian Hauger, "Nordlandsnetter" ("Nordland Nights") in collaboration with Jens Book-Jenssen
in 1952, "Det ringer, det ringer" ("It's Ringing, It's Ringing") in 1953, "Kallen og katten" ("The Old Man and the Cat") in 1954, which was one of several adaptaions into songs of the poetry of Jakob Sande
, and also "De nære ting" ("The Things Near") in 1951, that song was also with lyrics by Arne Paasche Aasen. After the death of Reidar Bøe in 1969, Foss didn't thrive in the limelight as he had used to. During the subsequent years he worked as, among other things, stage manager at some of Oslo
's theatres. Nevertheless, he still performed some during the 1970s as well as the 1980s, initially together with his wife Torhild Lindal who was also a stage artist, and later with other, one of these being Jon Eikemo
. He was awarded the Gammleng Award in the veteran category in 1986. In 1989 he moved back to his home town, Bergen, and he lived there until his death in 1991, at the age of 66.
The first CD release of "Radiofantomene" came in 2004, and the second collector's album was released in August 2005. A third record with musical adaptations of Jakob Sande poems came in November 2006.
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, singer and vaudeville
Vaudeville
Vaudeville was a theatrical genre of variety entertainment in the United States and Canada from the early 1880s until the early 1930s. Each performance was made up of a series of separate, unrelated acts grouped together on a common bill...
artist.
He was born in Bergen
Bergen
Bergen is the second largest city in Norway with a population of as of , . Bergen is the administrative centre of Hordaland county. Greater Bergen or Bergen Metropolitan Area as defined by Statistics Norway, has a population of as of , ....
, and together with Reidar Bøe Kurt Foss created the hugely popular duo "Radiofantomene" ("The Radio Phantoms") that was active throughout the 1940s, 50s and 60s. Their biggest success was the song "Blåveispiken
Blåveispiken
"Blåveispiken" is a Norwegian song with lyrics by Arne Paasche Aasen, and melody by Kurt Foss and Reidar Bøe. Foss and Bøe recorded the song in 1950. The record was a great success, and sold 100,000 items. The song was a popular hit in Norwegian radio in the 1950s.The lyrics centers around the...
" ("The Liverwort Girl") with lyrics by Arne Paasche Aasen
Arne Paasche Aasen
Arne Paasche Aasen was a Norwegian politician, journalist and poet, who worked for the labour movement.He was born in Steinkjer as a son of teacher and politician Augusta Aasen, née Paasche and typographer Edolf Aasen . The family soon moved to Kristiania. In 1927 he married Valborg "Vaps" Moe...
and which was released in 1950 selling 100,000 records. They later produced humorous songs and tender vise
Vise
Vise may refer to:* Miami Vise, a defunct AFL team* Vise , a mechanical screw apparatus* Vise , an architectural element* Venus In-Situ Explorer * The Vise, TV show* Visé, BelgiumPeople with the surname Vise:...
s, among these were "Tre yndige små mus" ("Three Cute Little Mice") in 1950, composed by Kristian Hauger, "Nordlandsnetter" ("Nordland Nights") in collaboration with Jens Book-Jenssen
Jens Book-Jenssen
Jens Peter Book-Jenssen 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...
in 1952, "Det ringer, det ringer" ("It's Ringing, It's Ringing") in 1953, "Kallen og katten" ("The Old Man and the Cat") in 1954, which was one of several adaptaions into songs of the poetry of Jakob Sande
Jakob Sande
Jakob Sande was a Norwegian writer, poet and folk singer from Dale in Sunnfjord. His parents were Andreas Sande and Ragna Margrete . He married Solveig Ytterlid in 1942 and they had a daughter, Siri, in 1943....
, and also "De nære ting" ("The Things Near") in 1951, that song was also with lyrics by Arne Paasche Aasen. After the death of Reidar Bøe in 1969, Foss didn't thrive in the limelight as he had used to. During the subsequent years he worked as, among other things, stage manager at some of 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...
's theatres. Nevertheless, he still performed some during the 1970s as well as the 1980s, initially together with his wife Torhild Lindal who was also a stage artist, and later with other, one of these being Jon Eikemo
Jon Eikemo
Jon Eikemo is a Norwegian actor. He debuted on stage in 1961. He made his film debut in 1968, with the movie De ukjentes marked ....
. He was awarded the Gammleng Award in the veteran category in 1986. In 1989 he moved back to his home town, Bergen, and he lived there until his death in 1991, at the age of 66.
The first CD release of "Radiofantomene" came in 2004, and the second collector's album was released in August 2005. A third record with musical adaptations of Jakob Sande poems came in November 2006.