Lillebjørn Nilsen

Norwegian Music Legend Lillebjørn Nilsen
Lillebjørn has been singing since the sixties. His debut record "Tilbake," which came out in 1971, was closely followed by others, like pearls on a string. Throughout the years and decades, Lillebjørn has received prestigious prizes and been honoured for outstanding contributions as a performing artist. In 1995, he received Denmark's first folk music prize. And in 2005 his own home town presented him The Oslo City Cultural Prize.
During his career, Lillebjørn has published several books combining guitar and song. These songbooks are pulled out around the campfire, in schools, and in kids' rooms where chords are instilled in fingers. Everyone knows Lillebjørn. His "Guitar Book" alone has sold more than 180.000 copies.
Lillebjørn plays several stringed instruments, including guitar, banjo, mandolin and Hardanger fiddle. His repertoire encompasses Norwegian folksongs in his own arrangements, his own translations of songs from other countries, and not least his own lyrics and melodies.
In a simple and down to earth manner, Lillebjørn has set words to everyday concepts, and his songs have always gone home with both young and old.
In addition to numerous tours in Norway and other Nordic countries, he has peformed at large festivals in Europe and the USA. He also joined other musicians to form two successful groups which played to full houses and sold hundreds of thousands of records.
In 1996, Lillebjørn released a double album of 40 of his best and most well known songs, "40 Spor". In 2010, he will celebrate his 60th birthday. Not bad for a legend.