Owe Thörnqvist
Encyclopedia
Owe Thörnqvist is a Swedish
troubadour
, revue
artist and songwriter. Since the 1960s he has lived in Spain
and Florida
in the winter for health reasons, and in Sweden in the summers. He has also made regular concert tours in Sweden.
In 1953, Thörnqvist produced his first revue in Uppsala, and in 1955 his first record was released. His musical style spans over both rock, rumba and calypso
, and he has also written pastiche
s of American popular music; his texts are characterised by word play and humour.
Thörnqvist was one of the first people to do stand-up comedy
in Sweden, in venues such as Hamburger Börs and Berns in Stockholm in the 1950s. He has worked together with artists such as Povel Ramel
(in the revue I hatt och strumpa in 1961-62), Anita Lindblom, Lill Lindfors
and Eva Rydberg. In 1963, Thörnqvist provided guest vocals and performed the song "Wilma" on the Flintstones episode The Swedish Visitors.
In 2004, Thörnqvist received H. M. The King's Medal
in the 8th size for his many contributions to Swedish culture as a songwriter, singer and composer. He has also received the Evert Taube
prize (Evert Taube-stipendiet) and the Cornelis Vreeswijk
prize (Cornelis Vreeswijk-stipendiet).
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
troubadour
Troubadour
A troubadour was a composer and performer of Old Occitan lyric poetry during the High Middle Ages . Since the word "troubadour" is etymologically masculine, a female troubadour is usually called a trobairitz....
, revue
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
artist and songwriter. Since the 1960s he has lived in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
and Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
in the winter for health reasons, and in Sweden in the summers. He has also made regular concert tours in Sweden.
In 1953, Thörnqvist produced his first revue in Uppsala, and in 1955 his first record was released. His musical style spans over both rock, rumba and calypso
Calypso music
Calypso is a style of Afro-Caribbean music that originated in Trinidad and Tobago from African and European roots. The roots of the genre lay in the arrival of enslaved Africans, who, not being allowed to speak with each other, communicated through song...
, and he has also written pastiche
Pastiche
A pastiche is a literary or other artistic genre or technique that is a "hodge-podge" or imitation. The word is also a linguistic term used to describe an early stage in the development of a pidgin language.-Hodge-podge:...
s of American popular music; his texts are characterised by word play and humour.
Thörnqvist was one of the first people to do stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy
Stand-up comedy is a comedic art form. Usually, a comedian performs in front of a live audience, speaking directly to them. Their performances are sometimes filmed for later release via DVD, the internet, and television...
in Sweden, in venues such as Hamburger Börs and Berns in Stockholm in the 1950s. He has worked together with artists such as Povel Ramel
Povel Ramel
Baron Povel Karl Henric Ramel was a Swedish entertainer. Ramel was a singer, pianist, vaudeville artist, author and a novelty song composer. His style was characterized by imaginative wit, both verbal and musical...
(in the revue I hatt och strumpa in 1961-62), Anita Lindblom, Lill Lindfors
Lill Lindfors
Lillemor "Lill" Lindfors is a Finland-Swedish/Swedish singer. Born in Helsinki, Finland she has been performing in Scandinavia with minor and major success since the 1960s. She debuted as a revue actress in Uddevalla in 1960 and the following year as a recording artist...
and Eva Rydberg. In 1963, Thörnqvist provided guest vocals and performed the song "Wilma" on the Flintstones episode The Swedish Visitors.
In 2004, Thörnqvist received H. M. The King's Medal
H. M. The King's Medal
H. M. The King's Medal , earlier known as the Court Medal , is an honour that may be bestowed on Swedish citizens.-Honour:...
in the 8th size for his many contributions to Swedish culture as a songwriter, singer and composer. He has also received the Evert Taube
Evert Taube
Evert Axel Taube was a Swedish author, artist, composer and singer. He is best known for his folk songs, and is widely regarded as one of Sweden's most respected musicians.-Biography:...
prize (Evert Taube-stipendiet) and the Cornelis Vreeswijk
Cornelis Vreeswijk
Cornelis Vreeswijk , was a singer-songwriter, poet and actor born in IJmuiden in the Netherlands.He emigrated to Sweden with his parents in 1949 at the age of twelve. He was educated as a social worker and hoped to become a journalist, but became increasingly involved in music, performing at...
prize (Cornelis Vreeswijk-stipendiet).