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Björn Kristian Ulvaeus (born 1945, age 64) is a Swedish musician, composer, and a former member of the Swedish musical group ABBA (1972-1982). He is the co-composer of the musicals, Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla, and Mamma Mia! and together with his ex-ABBA member, Benny Andersson, is also the co-producer of the the film, Mamma Mia!.
| Fast Facts
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| Björn Ulvaeus
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| Birth name
| Björn Kristian Ulvaeus
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| Born
| April 25, 1945 (aged 64)
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| Origin
| Gothenburg, Sweden
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| Genre(s)
| Folklore, pop music
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| Occupation(s)
| Songwriter, Composer, writer, producer
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| Instrument(s)
| Guitar, Saxophone, Piano, Vocals, Mandolin
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| Years active
| 1964 - present
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| Label(s)
| Polar Music
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| Associated acts
| ABBA, Hootenanny Singers
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2. Born in Gothenburg, Sweden, Ulvaues moved to Västervik with his family when he was 11 and later, played and sang in a skiffle group called the Mackie's Skiffle Group. In 1963, they won the amateur national talent contest, Plats på scen, which was sponsored by Swedish Radio. The group attracted the attention of Bengt Bernhag and Stig Anderson of the newly-formed Polar Music record company who signed them and persuaded them to change their name to Hootenanny Singers. The Hootenanny Singers won the amateur contest with their song, Jag vänter vid min mila, which was released as a single. It became the first hit for both the company and the group, and Hootenanny became a big thing not only in Scandinavia but also in the United States.
3. While on the road in southern Sweden in 1966, the Hootenanny Singers encountered the Hep Stars, and Ulvaeus quickly became friends with the group's keyboard player, Benny Andersson. The two musicians shared the passion of writing and in the other, found a composing partner. While filming a nostalgic schlager special for television in March 1969, Ulvaeus met 18-year old singer and songwriter, Agnetha Fältskog. Around the same time, Andersson had met his future spouse, 24-year old jazz and schlager vocalist, Anni-Frid Lyngstad. As the two couples began supporting each other during their recording sessions, the sound of the girls' voices convinced the two men to model their 'group' on the likes of MOR acts, Blue Mink, Middle of the Road, and The Sweet and thus, ABBA came to life.
4. ABBA's breakthrough came with winning the Eurovision Song Contest for Sweden with Waterloo in April 1974. As their popularity grew, they were sought after to tour Europe, Australia, and North America, drawing crowds of near-hysterical fans. Touring, however, became a contentious issue, being particularly unpopular with Fältskog, but they continued to release studio albums to great commercial success. At the height of their popularity, however, both marriages failed, and ABBA finally broke up in 1982.
5. After leaving ABBA, Ulvaeus and Andersson jointly created the musicals Chess, Kristina från Duvemåla (based on The Emigrants novels by Swedish writer, Vilhelm Moberg), and Mamma Mia! (based on ABBA songs). Ulvaeus presently suffers from severe memory loss and no longer remembers much of his life. He has little memory of being famous and has even turned to hypnotism to try and bring back his memory. more... at Chronology
