Gunnar Nilson, known in Sweden by the moniker Siljabloo, (September 2, 1925 – December 12, 1989) was a Swedish jazz singer and clarinetist. He was one of the few male singers in the jazz genre to achieve success in Sweden.
Life and career
Born in Luleå, Sweden on September 2, 1925, Gunnar Nilson began his career performing in amateur bands in Norrbotten County. He moved to Stockholm where he eventually became a founding member of the professional vocal group Flickery Flies [sv] with whom he performed from 1947 through 1951. While performing with Carl-Henrik Norin's band from 1952 to 1955 he earned the moniker "Siljabloo" due to the popularity of his bop-inspired vocal improvisations in the song "Sil-ja-bloo" which he recorded with Norin in 1953. He recorded two of his own albums with Odeon Records:, Siljabloo is Back (1969) and That’s my Desire (1971). In 1979 he recorded the jazz standard "If You Could See Me Now" on Sven-Åke Johansson's 1979 album Monday Date.
Nilson died in Örebro, Sweden on December 12, 1989.
References
- ^ Erik Kjellberg; Lars Westin (2003). "Nilson, Gunnar ". Grove Music Online. Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J330300.