Kenneth Gärdestad
Kenneth Gärdestad | |
---|---|
Born | John Charles Kenneth Gärdestad 9 May 1948 |
Died | 3 March 2018 | (aged 69)
Occupation(s) | Songwriter, lyricist, architect |
Musical career | |
Genres | Soft rock, vispop |
Years active | 1970s–2018 |
Labels | Polar |
John Charles Kenneth Gärdestad (9 May 1948 – 3 March 2018)
Music career
Gärdestad was a songwriter who co-wrote lyrics for many of his younger brother Ted Gärdestad's (1956–1997) songs. This included his
Gärdestad also competed in 2008 in the SVT music show Doobidoo along with Lotta Engberg.[4] He took part again in Melodifestivalen in 2010, with lyrics for "Hur kan jag tro på kärlek?" performed by singer Erik Linder. The song placed fifth in the semi-final and was eliminated.[5] In 2016, he was awarded the Musikförläggarnas pris, an honorary award for "many years of work for Swedish music and for creating timeless stories which he shares".[6] In 2018, he won an honorary Grammis award, citing "his many years in the music industry and for his work in it, and many wonderful lyrics."[7]
Tributes to his brother
Gärdestad, with Keijo Liimatainen, wrote Jag vill ha en egen måne (2005), a biography about his brother Ted and the circumstances surrounding his suicide in 1997.[8] In 2018, a biographical film about his brother, Ted: För kärlekens skull, was released.[9] Gärdestad took part in creating realistic scenes for the film and gave it his support.[10] Peter Viitanen portrayed Kenneth Gärdestad in the film.[9]
Gärdestad was a special guest on the show
Architecture work
Gärdestad was head architect at Kunskapsskolan from 2008 until his death, and designed many of the schools' rooms.[13][14] Kunskapsskolan (literally The Knowledge School) is a Swedish network of independent schools that provides education for students from grades 4 to 9 (ages 10 to 16).[14] It also provides gymnasium schools for grades 10 to 12 (ages 16 to 19) in different areas of Sweden.[14] Designed by Gärdestad, the architecture is very open, with glass and colourfully painted walls.[15] There are 36 Kunskapskolan schools in Sweden.[16]
Activism
Gärdestad worked to educate and create understanding about psychological illness after his brother Ted's mental illness and suicide in 1997.[17] He was the creator of the annual "Ted Gärdestad Stipend" awarded to amateur singers and songwriters since 1999 to promote their work.[18] The prize includes a tribute concert.[19][20][21]
Personal life
Gärdestad's brother Ted was a noted Swedish singer, who represented Sweden in Eurovision with one of Kenneth's songs.[2] Their other brother Kjell (1944–2000) was also a songwriter who co-wrote the song "Viking" with Ted.[22]
Death
Kenneth Gärdestad revealed in 2014 that he was suffering from skin cancer and latent lymphoma.[23][24] He died on 3 March 2018, aged 69.[25][26]
Bibliography
- Gärdestad, Kenneth; Liimatainen, Keijo (2005). Jag vill ha en egen måne: boken om Ted Gärdestad [I want my own moon: The book about Ted Gärdestad] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Forum.
Awards
- 2016 – Musikförläggarnas pris[6]
- 2018 – Honorary Grammis award[7]
References
- ^ "Kenneth Gärdestad är död – låtskrivaren blev 69 år gammal". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ a b c "Lista: Ted Gärdestads tio bästa låtar". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- TV4. Archivedfrom the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "Kronér: Jag trodde jag skulle svimma". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "Kenneth Gärdestad gör comeback i Melodifestivalen". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 14 October 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Kenneth Gärdestad får Musikförläggarnas hederspris 2016" (in Swedish). Musikförläggarna. 3 November 2016. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Grammis 2018 – vinnarna" (in Swedish). Grammisgalan. 8 February 2018. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ a b Spektra (18 October 2006). "Stipendium till Kenneth Gärdestad". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Kenneth Gärdestad om filmen: 'Väldigt vackert slut'". Året Runt (in Swedish). 12 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "Kenneth Gärdestad: Vi har haft ett gott samarbete". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 3 January 2018. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ a b "Ett av de allra bästa "Så mycket bättre"-avsnitten någonsin". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Så mycket bättre del 8" (in Swedish). TV4play.se. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
- ^ Klefberg, Eric (20 September 2008). "Arkitekten bakom framgångarna". Borås Tidning (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
- ^ a b c Thunberg, Karin (8 January 2017). "Kenneth Gärdestad: Det var ju Ted och jag (SvD Premium)". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ Thunberg, Karin (8 January 2017). "Berättade i intervju med SvD: "Det var ju Ted och jag" (SvD Premium)". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Kunskapsskolan". Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
- ^ "Ted Gärdestads mörka år före sin död". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "Ted Gärdestad-Galan med stipendieutdelningen på Liseberg, Göteborg 20/6" (in Swedish). Blaskan.nu. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
- ^ Gärdestad & Liimatainen 2005, pp. 194–195.
- ^ "Janne Schaffer hyllar vännen Ted Gärdestad" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
- ^ "Succéföreställningen om Ted Gärdestad har snart nypremiär med ny slagverkare" (in Swedish). newsdesk.se. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
- ^ Sveriges dödbok 1947–2006, CD-ROM, Sveriges Släktforskarförbund
- Corren (in Swedish). 5 November 2014. Archivedfrom the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "Kenneth Gärdestad orkar inte besöka filminspelningen: Jag hoppas överleva". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 19 June 2017. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
- ^ "Kenneth Gärdestad är död – avled i morse". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
- ^ "Kenneth Gärdestad is dead – became 69 years old". tech2.org. Archived from the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.