Viljo Vesterinen

{{Infobox musical artist

| name = Viljo Vesterinen

| image = Vilivesterinen.jpg

| caption =

| birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1907|3|26}}

| birth_place = Terijoki, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire
(present-day Zelenogorsk, Russia)

| death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1961|5|18|1907|3|26}}

| death_place = Helsinki, Finland

| occupation = Musician, composer

| instrument = Accordion

}}

Viljo "Vili" Vesterinen (26 March 1907 – 18 May 1961) was a Finnish accordionist and composer.{{cite web |last1=Tikka |first1=Marko |title=Vesterinen, Viljo (1907 - 1961) |url=https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/1029 |website=Kansallisbiografia |accessdate=24 June 2020 |date=30 July 2007}}{{cite web |last1=Pälli |first1=Erkki |title=Viljo Vesterinen |url=http://pomus.net/001540 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050108185056/http://pomus.net/001540 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 8, 2005 |website=Pomus |accessdate=24 June 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Lindfors |first1=Jukka |title=Vili Vesterinen oli harmonikan hallitsija |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2007/05/07/vili-vesterinen-oli-harmonikan-hallitsija |website=Yle |accessdate=24 June 2020 |date=7 May 2007}}{{cite web |last1=Hakasalo |first1=Ilpo |title=Vili Vesterinen |url=http://www.students.tut.fi/~funktio/vili.html |website=TUT |accessdate=24 June 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Tikka |first1=Marko |title=Viljo Vesterinen |url=https://vapaalehdykka.net/viljo-vesterinen/ |website=Vapaa Lehdykkä |date=4 June 2016 |accessdate=24 June 2020}}

Vesterinen was born in Terijoki. He studied piano and cello at the Vyborg Music Institute, but as an accordionist he was self-taught. Vesterinen mainly played in different bands and theatres early in his career. Vesterinen made his first recordings in 1929. The most popular recording of Vesterinen is Säkkijärven polkka in 1939. Even though it is not Vesterinen's own song, his version of the song is the most popular among people. Other popular songs are Metsäkukkia (1931), Hilpeä hanuri (1936) and Valssi menneiltä ajoilta (1939). Vesterinen made a total of 130 recordings during his career. Heavy use of alcohol and cigarettes caused his health to deteriorate and affected his ability to play.

Vesterinen also appeared in some films. The biopic Säkkijärven polkka (1955) is the story of Vesterinen's life.

File:Viljo Vesterinen 1930-luvulla.jpg