Björn Afzelius


Björn Svante Afzelius was a Swedish singer-songwriter and guitar player. Politically, he was an outspoken socialist, known for his support for Olof Palme. His songs are about love, politics and joys and sadness in life.

Career

His father Svante Arnold Afzelius was an engineer and his mother Ulla Afzelius was a housewife. His only sibling is his brother Bengt who is a music teacher. He came into contact with music from a very young age, because his mother and her side of the family were largely into music. In 1970, Afzelius formed the progg group Hoola Bandoola Band together with Mikael Wiehe. Wiehe and Afzelius became very close friends and worked together long after Hoola Bandoola had dissolved in 1975.
Afzelius released his first solo album in 1974, his last one in 1999. Some of his most popular songs are "Ikaros", "Tusen bitar", "Sång till friheten", "Kungens man", "Tankar i Havanna" and "Till min kära". He died from lung cancer in 1999, 52 years old, but he remains one of the most beloved artists in Scandinavia.
He wrote about 150 songs and sold over two-and-a-half million albums.

Discography

With Hoola Bandoola Band