There I was a teenager, well I was fifteen and everday I travelled to the nearby town to my job. The shop where I worked was a fantastic place, that´s for sure. The shopowner Mr B Caroluson was a self taught guitarplayer, with a great sense of humor. Even when He was struggeling with the economy of the his Musicshop.
So there I was learning how to sell different musicinstruments. Pianos those new electric organs that became popular, flute´s, saxophones and all other kind of instrument´s. Then there was guitars for the beguinners, and Electric guitars and amp´s.
On the shopwall´s those cool guitar´s was hanging, waiting to be play´d. And natuarly I couldnt resist playing em. Me as well as all other youngsters who arrived like clockwork everyday at lunchtime. All of em trying to play the latest popular riff! Some did a great job with those tunes, some didnt but still they all was there. And sometimes they arrived back to the shop after school with the money to buy a new electric guitar.
Among all those wannabee rockstars was also many musicians that already was pro´s! Or at least was almost pro´s. They show´d up sometimes and use to play some parts of a sweet sound tune. Among them was a couple of guy´s that was real good. They came in for a cup of coffey and musictalk. First of all they was real great musicians, second they made it their goal to be the Swedish Answer to American Four Freshman! They even took their singing one step further. Five guy´s singing in five harmonies......
So they buildt a studio, and rehearsed, over and over again. Until one day when they was invited to perform in a Swedsih Televison Show. The Swedish musicworld and critics, all said this is the best thing that has been done in our country. Two LP´s and a couple of 45´s was released. Possibly their music was to advanced for Mr & Mrs Smigh, so not that many was sold.
Those guy´s soon became my secret idol´s, right there beside the Beatles. Bought their first LP with a mix of songs performed in both English and Swedish. Spent hours with that vinyl on me grammophone trying to learn the different harmonies of each song.
-Hallo Carolus (me boss was called Carolus) we are planing to produce our own equipment. But we need to borrow some amps from you!! They didnt wanna buy em!! But natuarly Carolus who was a freindly guy said yes.
The following friday all five of em arrived to the shop with a van. A van that an hour later was packed with different VOX amplifiers.
Come´s monday and there they was again, loading all amp´s back into the shop. Included was a bottle of whisky and a a cart of Camel without filter cigararettes.
A couple of week´s later Kent Anderzon (why he spelled his name like that I dont know, natural would be Andersson with out a Z) He carried in a brand new guitaramplifier. A great looking thing made in teakveneer with similarities to the VOX AC50 combo.
Among all other brands in amp´s we now also had the GROPE line of amp´s and at least locally on the westcoast they was selling. They hade the sound and the styling.
Kent as well as all of us grow older, got married and did have children. It´s then easy to understand that his daughter Pernilla became a singer. In fact she is famous, much more then Kent and the Swede Singers ever had the possibility to become. But one thing is clear she keep the heritage from her father alive.
During the year´s I called him on the phone a couple of time´s, him telling about those great days in the 60´s and his plan to form a new Swede Singers. Unfortinutly it didnt come true, instead He became ill, in Alzheimers decise.
Following his daughter Pernilla on Facebook I see the latest news about her father. How he sometime seam to wake up when he is hearing music that he knows. When He and Pernilla sits down at the piano and plays some old tunes. Unfortinutly he escapes back to the shadows when the music stops!
Music can really do a big difference thats for sure. And He and the Swede Singers made a huge difference for me and still does.
Starting with a small Levin spanish, me job made it possible for me to buy an electric guitar and amp. So ever since I was ten I play´d me guitars. and often I play one of the ole Swede Singers tunes.
My fasination for their music contintued and today 50 years later I still play that old record every now and then. A few of their songs can be heard on YouTube.
So to Kent Anderzon and the Swede Singers - Thanks for all your music!
