Urmas Alender
Encyclopedia
Urmas Alender was an Estonian
singer and musician who is possibly best recalled as the vocalist of such popular Estonian bands as Ruja
and Propeller
.
Born in Tallinn
, Estonia
, Alender began his musical career in the rock band Shades in 1969 but departed the following year to become the vocalist for Andromeeda.
In 1971, Alender fronted the progressive rock
band Ruja with pianist Rein Rannap
. The band was influenced by such Western acts as Genesis
, Yes
, Emerson, Lake & Palmer
and King Crimson
and often incorporated the poetry of Estonian writers Juhan Viiding
and Ott Arder
into the lyrics. The band were one of the first nationally commercially successful rock bands to perform in their native Estonian language
. Alender would remain with the band until its demise in 1988.
From 1979 until 1980, Urmas Alender also fronted the Estonian punk rock
band Propeller. Other bands Alender performed with were Teravik (1973–1976), Data (1988–1989), and in 1983, he briefly played in an outfit called Kaseke.
In 1987, Alender appeared in the Estonian rockumentary
Pingul keel (Tightened String) alongside such other popular Estonian musicians as Tõnis Mägi
, Ivo Linna
and Anne Veski
.
After years of being harassed by the KGB
and Soviet authorities, Alender temporarily emigrated to Sweden in 1989.
On 28 September 1994, while en route from Tallinn to Stockholm, Sweden, Urmas Alender died when his ship, the cruiseferry
MS Estonia sank in the Baltic Sea
. He is survived by a daughter, Yoko Alender.
In 2003, Liia Sakkos made a documentary about Alender, titled Teisel pool vett (English: On the Other Side of the Water, also a title of a song by Ruja).
Estonians
Estonians are a Finnic people closely related to the Finns and inhabiting, primarily, the country of Estonia. They speak a Finnic language known as Estonian...
singer and musician who is possibly best recalled as the vocalist of such popular Estonian bands as Ruja
Ruja
Ruja was one of the foremost Estonian rock bands of the 1970s and 1980s. The name of the band comes from a neologism "ruja", for science fiction, though there are people who believe that "ruja" is actually made up of the first letters of the band's important members...
and Propeller
Propeller (band)
Propeller is an Estonian punk band formed in March 1980.- Line-up :*Urmas Alender – vocals*Prince Peeter Volkonski – vocals...
.
Born in Tallinn
Tallinn
Tallinn is the capital and largest city of Estonia. It occupies an area of with a population of 414,940. It is situated on the northern coast of the country, on the banks of the Gulf of Finland, south of Helsinki, east of Stockholm and west of Saint Petersburg. Tallinn's Old Town is in the list...
, Estonia
Estonia
Estonia , officially the Republic of Estonia , is a state in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by the Gulf of Finland, to the west by the Baltic Sea, to the south by Latvia , and to the east by Lake Peipsi and the Russian Federation . Across the Baltic Sea lies...
, Alender began his musical career in the rock band Shades in 1969 but departed the following year to become the vocalist for Andromeeda.
In 1971, Alender fronted the progressive rock
Progressive rock
Progressive rock is a subgenre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s as part of a "mostly British attempt to elevate rock music to new levels of artistic credibility." John Covach, in Contemporary Music Review, says that many thought it would not just "succeed the pop of...
band Ruja with pianist Rein Rannap
Rein Rannap
Rein Rannap is an Estonian composer and pianist.Since 1968, Rannap has given numerous public piano performances.Rannap has been active in management and composition for Ruja, Noor-Eesti and Hõim.- Pianist career :...
. The band was influenced by such Western acts as Genesis
Genesis (band)
Genesis are an English rock band that formed in 1967. The band currently comprises the longest-tenured members Tony Banks , Mike Rutherford and Phil Collins . Past members Peter Gabriel , Steve Hackett and Anthony Phillips , also played major roles in the band in its early years...
, Yes
Yes (band)
Yes are an English rock band who achieved worldwide success with their progressive, art, and symphonic style of rock music. Regarded as one of the pioneers of the progressive genre, Yes are known for their lengthy songs, mystical lyrics, elaborate album art, and live stage sets...
, Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer
Emerson, Lake & Palmer, also known as ELP, are an English progressive rock supergroup. They found success in the 1970s and sold over forty million albums and headlined large stadium concerts. The band consists of Keith Emerson , Greg Lake and Carl Palmer...
and King Crimson
King Crimson
King Crimson are a rock band founded in London, England in 1969. Often categorised as a foundational progressive rock group, the band have incorporated diverse influences and instrumentation during their history...
and often incorporated the poetry of Estonian writers Juhan Viiding
Juhan Viiding
Juhan Viiding , also known under the pseudonym of Jüri Üdi was an Estonian poet and actor.-Childhood, education, and family:Juhan Viiding was born June 1, 1948 in Tallinn to Linda and Paul Viiding...
and Ott Arder
Ott Arder
Ott Arder was an Estonian poet, children's writer and translator. He was also the author of several popular songs and written texts....
into the lyrics. The band were one of the first nationally commercially successful rock bands to perform in their native Estonian language
Estonian language
Estonian is the official language of Estonia, spoken by about 1.1 million people in Estonia and tens of thousands in various émigré communities...
. Alender would remain with the band until its demise in 1988.
From 1979 until 1980, Urmas Alender also fronted the Estonian punk rock
Punk rock
Punk rock is a rock music genre that developed between 1974 and 1976 in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia. Rooted in garage rock and other forms of what is now known as protopunk music, punk rock bands eschewed perceived excesses of mainstream 1970s rock...
band Propeller. Other bands Alender performed with were Teravik (1973–1976), Data (1988–1989), and in 1983, he briefly played in an outfit called Kaseke.
In 1987, Alender appeared in the Estonian rockumentary
Rockumentary
The term rockumentary is a neologism denoting a documentary about rock music or its musicians. The term was used by Bill Drake in the 1969 History of Rock & Roll radio broadcast, and by Rob Reiner in the 1984 mockumentary film This Is Spinal Tap....
Pingul keel (Tightened String) alongside such other popular Estonian musicians as Tõnis Mägi
Tõnis Mägi
Tõnis Mägi is an Estonian singer, guitarist, composer and actor. He is one of the most influential and remarkable names in the Estonian rock music for the past 40 years....
, Ivo Linna
Ivo Linna
Ivo Linna is an Estonian singer.He represented Estonia in the Eurovision Song Contest 1996 with the song "Kaelakee Hääl" which would go onto finish 5th at the contest, held in Oslo that year....
and Anne Veski
Anne Veski
Anne Veski is an Estonian pop singer who has recorded music in both her native language as well as Russian, and Polish.- Biography :...
.
After years of being harassed by the KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
and Soviet authorities, Alender temporarily emigrated to Sweden in 1989.
On 28 September 1994, while en route from Tallinn to Stockholm, Sweden, Urmas Alender died when his ship, the cruiseferry
Cruiseferry
A cruiseferry is a ship that combines the features of a cruise ship with a Ro-Pax ferry. Many passengers travel with the ships for the cruise experience, staying only a few hours at the destination port or not leaving the ship at all, while others use the ships as means of...
MS Estonia sank in the Baltic Sea
Baltic Sea
The Baltic Sea is a brackish mediterranean sea located in Northern Europe, from 53°N to 66°N latitude and from 20°E to 26°E longitude. It is bounded by the Scandinavian Peninsula, the mainland of Europe, and the Danish islands. It drains into the Kattegat by way of the Øresund, the Great Belt and...
. He is survived by a daughter, Yoko Alender.
In 2003, Liia Sakkos made a documentary about Alender, titled Teisel pool vett (English: On the Other Side of the Water, also a title of a song by Ruja).
Discography
- "Vana klounVana klounVana kloun is the first studio album by Estonian rock musician Urmas Alender, released in 1992, decades after the start of Alender's musical career.The album was re-released as whole on Kohtumine Albertiga.-A-side:...
" (1992) - "HingelindHingelindHingelind is the second and last studio album by Estonian rock musician Urmas Alender, released in 1994. The album can be described as a concept album, since between songs there are spoken interludes by Alender of a "soul bird", who leads our lives in unexpected and expected ways.The album was...
" (1994) - "Kogutud teosed. 1968-1980. Esimene osa.Kogutud teosed. 1968-1980. Esimene osa.Kogutud teosed. 1968–1980. Esimene osa. is the first compilation album by Estonian rock musician Urmas Alender, coupled with Kogutud teosed. 1981–1993. Teine osa....
" (2000) - "Kogutud teosed. 1981-1993. Teine osa.Kogutud teosed. 1981-1993. Teine osa.Kogutud teosed. 1981-1993. Teine osa. is a compilation album by Estonian rock musician Urmas Alender, coupled with Kogutud teosed. 1968-1980. Esimene osa....
" (2000) - "Kui mind enam ei oleKui mind enam ei oleKui mind enam ei ole is a compilation album by Estonian rock musician Urmas Alender, titled after one of the most loved songs by Alender. It is simply compiled of songs from Kogutud teosed. 1968-1980. Esimene osa. and Kogutud teosed. 1981-1993...
" (2001) - "Kohtumine AlbertigaKohtumine Albertiga (box set)Kohtumine Albertiga is a limited edition box set by Estonian rock musician Urmas Alender, containing the upcoming albums Kohtumine Albertiga and Armastuse ämblik, which are mostly re-releases of Vana kloun and Hingelind...
" (2-CD, 2003) - "Kohtumine AlbertigaKohtumine AlbertigaKohtumine Albertiga is a compilation album by Estonian rock musician Urmas Alender, coupled with Armastuse ämblik. It was previously released with Armastuse ämblik on the box set Kohtumine Albertiga....
" (2003) - "Armastuse ämblikArmastuse ämblikArmastuse ämblik is a compilation album by Estonian rock musician Urmas Alender, coupled with Kohtumine Albertiga. It was previously released with Kohtumine Albertiga on the box set Kohtumine Albertiga....
" (2003)