Radka Toneff

Radka Toneff (25 June 1952 – 21 October 1982) was a Norwegian jazz singer. She died in 1982, officially by committing suicide. [ [http://web.archive.org/web/20080124125414/http://www.musicweb.uk.net/encyclopaedia/t/T64.HTM "Radka Toneff"] at MusicWeb Encyclopaedia of Popular Music] She is still considered one of Norway's most outstanding 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=2008-09-08 ]

A daughter of the Bulgarian folk singer 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=2008-09-08 ] she was born in Oslo and grew up in Lambertseter and Kolbotn.

She studied at Oslo Musikkonservatorium from 1971 to 1975.c] From 1975 to 1980 were, among others, Arild Andersen and Jon Eberson members of Radka Toneff Quintet. [http://www.jazzbasen.no/formatering.php?navn=RADKA+TONEFF Radka Toneff] at Norwegian Jazz Archives (1994)] From 1979 she cooperated with Steve Dobrogosz.d] In 1980 she participated in the Norwegian finale of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Parken" by Ole Paus.

She received the Spellemannsprisen 1977 in the category best vocal for the record "Winter Poem", and she posthumously received Norwegian Jazz Association's Buddy Prize in 1982.b] The Radka Toneff Memorial Award is based on a fund created with royalties from the albums "Fairytales" and "Live in Hamburg".c]

Radka Toneff lived together with Arild Andersen for a long time. However, she was having a relationship with another jazz musician Audun Kleive at the time of her death.Fact|date=September 2008

Toneff was biographed in 2008. [cite book |title=Radka Toneff. Hennes korte liv og store stemme |last=Breen |first=Marta |year=2008 |publisher=Kagge Forlag |location=Oslo |isbn=978-82-489-0755-8 ]

Discography

* 1977 - "Winter Poem" - with the Radka Toneff Quintet
* 1979 - "It Don't Come Easy" - with the Radka Toneff Quintet
* 1982 - "Fairytales" - with Steve Dobrogosz
* 1992 - "Live in Hamburg" - with Steve Dobrogosz, Arild Andersen, and Alex Riel (recorded in 1981)

Toneff participated on the following records with other artists

*Nationaltheatret: "Svartkatten" (1971)
*Fronteatret/Visegruppa PS: "Slutt opp, kamerat" (1971)
*Ole Paus: "Lise Madsen, Moses og de andre"(1975)
*Ketil Bjørnstad: "Leve Patagonia" (1978)

References