Björn Ulvaeus

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Björn Kristian Ulvaeus (born April 25, 1945) is a Swedish musician and composer, most notable as a member of pop group ABBA.

Ulvaeus was born in Gothenburg, but as a child he moved with his family to Västervik. Ulvaeus studied Business and Law at the Lund University after doing his Military Service with stand-up comedian Magnus Holmström.

Prior to gaining international recognition with ABBA, Björn was a member of the Hootenanny Singers. While on the road in 1966, they encountered the Hep Stars, and Björn quickly became friends with the group’s keyboard player, Benny Andersson. While filming a pop special for television in March 1969, Björn met eighteen-year-old Agnetha Fältskog. Benny would then meet Anni-Frid Lyngstad soon after.

After being a member of ABBA he has, together with Andersson, created the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla (based on The Emigrants novels by Swedish writer Vilhelm Moberg), and Mamma Mia! (based on ABBA songs).

Together with Andersson, Ulvaeus was nominated for the Drama Desk Award in a category "Outstanding Music" (for the musical Chess), and for a Tony Award in a category "Best Orchestrations" (for musical Mamma Mia!). Original cast recordings of both musicals were nominated for a Grammy Award.

Ulvaeus also shared with Andersson "The Special International Ivor Novello Award" from 'The British Academy of Composers and Songwriters', "The Music Export Prize" from the Swedish Ministry of Industry and Trade, and "Lifetime Achievement Award" from the Swedish Music Publishers Association (SMFF).

[edit] Personal life

On July 6, 1971, Björn married Fältskog; the marriage resulted in two children: Linda (born in 1973), and Christian (born in 1977). In July 1980, Björn and Agnetha divorced, although they both agreed to remain in ABBA. Björn then married music journalist Lena Kallersjö on January 6, 1981. This marriage produced another two daughters: Emma (born in 1982) and Anna (born in 1986).

Ulvaeus and Kallersjö currently live in Stockholm. From 1984 to 1990 they resided in the UK where Ulvaeus founded an IT-business together with his brother.

Ulvaeus is a member of the International Humanist and Ethical Union's Swedish member organisation Humanisterna, and was awarded their annual prize, Hedenius-priset, in 2006.

[edit] External links

• Interview in "Humanisten"

[edit] See also

• List of Swedes in music
• Mamma Mia!

v • d • e ABBA
Agnetha Fältskog • Björn Ulvaeus • Benny Andersson • Anni-Frid Lyngstad
Studio albums	Ring Ring • Waterloo • ABBA • Arrival • The Album • Voulez-Vous • Super Trouper • The Visitors
Compilations	Greatest Hits • Greatest Hits Vol. 2 • Gracias Por La Música • The Singles: The First Ten Years • ABBA Gold: Greatest Hits • More ABBA Gold: More ABBA Hits • ABBA Oro: Grandes Éxitos • Thank You for the Music • The Definitive Collection • The Complete Studio Recordings • Number Ones
Hit singles	"People Need Love" • "He Is Your Brother" • "Ring Ring" • "Love Isn't Easy (But It Sure Is Hard Enough)" • "Waterloo" • "Honey, Honey" • "So Long" • "I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do, I Do" • "SOS" • "Mamma Mia" • "Fernando" • "Dancing Queen" • "Money, Money, Money" • "Knowing Me, Knowing You" • "The Name of the Game" • "Take a Chance on Me" • "Eagle" • "Summer Night City" • "Chiquitita" • "Does Your Mother Know" • "Voulez-Vous" • "Angeleyes" • "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" • "I Have a Dream" • "The Winner Takes It All" • "On and On and On" • "Super Trouper" • "Lay All Your Love on Me" • "One of Us" • "When All is Said and Done" • "Head over Heels" • "The Day Before You Came" • "Under Attack" • "Thank You for the Music"
Related articles	Discography • Unreleased songs • Eurovision Song Contest 1974 • Mamma Mia! • Congratulations • Music of Sweden • Stig Anderson

bg:Бьорн Улвеус

da:Björn Ulvaeus de:Björn Ulvaeus et:Björn Ulvaeus es:Björn Ulvaeus fr:Björn Ulvaeus he:ביורן אולבאוס it:Björn Ulvaeus lv:Bjerns Ulveuss nl:Björn Ulvaeus no:Björn Ulvaeus pl:Björn Ulvaeus pt:Björn Ulvaeus fi:Björn Ulvaeus sv:Björn Ulvaeus tr:Björn Ulvaeus