Radka Toneff
{{short description|Norwegian singer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2019}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name = Radka Toneff
| image = Radka Toneff.jpg
| caption = Radka Toneff live 1982 in Bergen.
| image_size = 260px
| birth_name = Ellen Radka Toneff
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1952|6|25}}
| birth_place = Oslo, Norway
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1982|10|21|1952|6|25}}
| death_place = Oslo, Norway
| origin = Norway
| background = solo_singer
| instrument = Vocals
| genre = Jazz
| occupation = Musician, composer
| years_active =
| label =
| associated_acts =
| website =
}}
Ellen Radka Toneff (25 June 1952 – 21 October 1982) was a Norwegian jazz singer, daughter of the Bulgarian folk singer, pilot and radio technician Toni Toneff,{{cite news |first=Per Kristian |last=Johansen |title=Radka Toneff 1952–1982 |url=http://www.nrk.no/programmer/radio/norgesglasset_40/40/2948410.html |work=Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation |language=Norwegian |date=30 July 2003 |accessdate=8 September 2008 }} she was born in Oslo and grew up in Lambertseter and Kolbotn.{{cite encyclopedia |url=http://snl.no/.nbl_biografi/Radka_Toneff/utdypning |title=Radka Toneff |first=Tore |last=Halvorsen |language=Norwegian |accessdate=14 November 2012 |encyclopedia=Norsk Biografisk Leksikon |publisher=Kunnskapsforlaget}} She is still considered one of Norway's greatest jazz singers.{{cite news |first=Carl Kristian |last=Johansen |title=Ny biografi om Radka Toneff i butikkene i dag |url=http://www.mic.no/nmi.nsf/doc/art2008090111372932371252 |work=Ballade |language=Norwegian |date=1 September 2008 |accessdate=8 September 2008}}
Career
Toneff holds a very special position in the Norwegian jazz history. With her moderate, but intense expression and her discerning musicianship, she made a deep impression on many people. Her highly personal and original qualities, where she combined influences from her father's musical heritage in Bulgaria with a range of influences from, among others, jazz and rock, led her to become a beacon for singers both in Norway and internationally.
She studied music at Oslo Musikkonservatorium (1971–75), combined with playing in the jazz rock band "Unis". She also had her own Radka Toneff Quintet (1975–80), with changing lineup. including musicians like Arild Andersen, Jon Balke, Jon Eberson and Jon Christensen, among others.{{cite web |url=http://www.jazzbasen.no/formatering.php?navn=RADKA+TONEFF |title=Radka Toneff Biography |language=Norwegian |publisher=JazzBasen.no Norwegian Jazz Archives (1994) |accessdate=8 September 2008}} From 1979 she cooperated with Steve Dobrogosz. In 1980 she participated in the Norwegian national final of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Parken by Ole Paus.
Toneff was awarded the Spellemannsprisen 1977 in the category best vocal for the album Winter Poem, and she posthumously received the Norwegian Jazz Association's Buddypris in 1982. The Radka Toneff Memorial Award is based on a fund created with royalties from the albums Fairytales and Live in Hamburg.
She lived with bassist Arild Andersen for some years, though she was involved with jazz drummer Audun Kleive at the time of her death.{{cite book |title=Radka Toneff. Hennes korte liv og store stemme |last=Breen |first=Marta |authorlink=Marta Breen |year=2008 |publisher=Kagge Forlag |location=Oslo |isbn=978-82-489-0755-8 }} A biography of Toneff was published in 2008.
Toneff had roots in Bulgaria, she grew up on Lambertseter (in Oslo) and Kolbotn (in a neighboring former municipality), and left deep traces in Norwegian jazz. In a poll of Norwegian musicians conducted by the newspaper Morgenbladet in November 2011, her 1982 album Fairytales was voted the best Norwegian album of all time.{{cite news |title=Norsk jazz' store ikon |first=Marta |last=Breen |authorlink=Marta Breen |language=Norwegian |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/2008/08/27/544893.html |work=Dagbladet |date=27 August 2008 |accessdate=14 October 2013}} Toneff was found dead in the woods of Bygdøy outside Oslo on 21 October 1982. She had committed suicide with an overdose of sleeping pills.{{cite news |title=Distansert blikk: Nyansert portrett, mangler en klo |first=Marta |last=Breen |authorlink=Marta Breen |language=Norwegian |url=http://www.dagbladet.no/kultur/2008/08/31/545309.html |work=Dagbladet |date=31 August 2008 |accessdate=14 October 2013}}
Honors
- Spellemannsprisen 1977 in the class Best vocal for the album Winter Poem
- Buddyprisen 1982 posthumously
Discography
= Solo albums =
- 1977: Winter Poem (Zarepta Records) – with the Radka Toneff Quintet
- 1979: It Don't Come Easy (Zarepta Records) – with the Radka Toneff Quintet
- 1982: Fairytales (Odin Records) – with Steve Dobrogosz
- 1993: Live in Hamburg (Odin Records) – with Steve Dobrogosz, Arild Andersen, and Alex Riel (recorded in 1981)
;Compilations
- 2003: Some Time Ago – A Collection Of Her Finest Moments (EmArcy Records)
- 2008: Set It Free – Et Portrett Av Radka Toneff (KRF Records)
- 2008: Butterfly (Curling Legs)
= Collaborative works =
- 1971: Slutt Opp, Kamerat (Plateselskapet Oktober), "Fronteatret"/«Visegruppa PS»
- 1971: Svartkatten (Flora / Arne Bendiksen), Nationaltheatret
- 1975: Lise Madsen, Moses Og De Andre (Sonet Records), with Ole Paus
- 1978: Leve Patagonia (Philips Records), with Ketil Bjørnstad
References
{{portal|Norway|Jazz}}
{{Reflist}}
{{Commons category|Radka Toneff}}
External links
- [http://snl.no/Radka_Toneff Radka Toneff Biography] by Johs Bergh on Store Norske Leksikon
- [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XtgIxU8TCyY Radka Toneff Moon's a Harsh Mistress] on YouTube
{{s-start}}
{{s-ach|aw}}
{{s-bef | before = Knut Riisnæs}}
{{s-ttl | title = Recipient of the Buddyprisen | years = 1982}}
{{s-aft | after = Terje Bjørklund, Knut Kristiansen & Espen Rud}}
{{s-bef | before = Knut Riisnæs & Jon Christensen}}
{{s-ttl | title = Recipient of the Jazz Spellemannprisen | years = 1993}}
{{s-aft | after = Egil Kapstad Trio}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Toneff, Radka}}
Category:Spellemannprisen winners
Category:Norwegian women jazz singers
Category:Norwegian jazz singers
Category:Norwegian people of Bulgarian descent
Category:Drug-related suicides in Norway
Category:EmArcy Records artists