Radka Toneff

Ellen Radka Toneff (25 June 1952 – 21 October 1982) was a Norwegian jazz singer, daughter of the Bulgarian folk singer, pilot and radio technician Toni Toneff,^[1] she was born in Oslo and grew up in Lambertseter and Kolbotn.^[2] She is still considered one of Norway's greatest jazz singers.^[3]

Radka Toneff
Radka Toneff live 1982 in Bergen.
Background information
Birth name	Ellen Radka Toneff
Born	(1952-06-25)25 June 1952 Oslo, Norway
Origin	Norway
Died	21 October 1982(1982-10-21) (aged 30) Oslo, Norway
Genres	Jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer
Instrument	Vocals

Career

Toneff holds a very special position in the Norwegian jazz history. With her moderate, but intense expression and her discerning musicianship, she made a deep impression on many people. Her highly personal and original qualities, where she combined influences from her father's musical heritage in Bulgaria with a range of influences from, among others, jazz and rock, led her to become a beacon for singers both in Norway and internationally.^[2]

She studied music at Oslo Musikkonservatorium (1971–75), combined with playing in the jazz rock band "Unis". She also had her own Radka Toneff Quintet (1975–80), with changing lineup.^[1] including musicians like Arild Andersen, Jon Balke, Jon Eberson and Jon Christensen, among others.^[4] From 1979 she cooperated with Steve Dobrogosz.^[1] In 1980 she participated in the Norwegian national final of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song Parken by Ole Paus.^[2]

Toneff was awarded the Spellemannsprisen 1977 in the category best vocal for the album Winter Poem, and she posthumously received the Norwegian Jazz Association's Buddypris in 1982.^[4] The Radka Toneff Memorial Award is based on a fund created with royalties from the albums Fairytales and Live in Hamburg.^[4]

She lived with bassist Arild Andersen for some years, though she was involved with jazz drummer Audun Kleive at the time of her death.^[5] A biography of Toneff was published in 2008.^[5]

Toneff had roots in Bulgaria, she grew up on Lambertseter (in Oslo) and Kolbotn (in a neighboring former municipality), and left deep traces in Norwegian jazz. In a poll of Norwegian musicians conducted by the newspaper Morgenbladet in November 2011, her 1982 album Fairytales was voted the best Norwegian album of all time.^[6] Toneff was found dead in the woods of Bygdøy outside Oslo on 21 October 1982. She had committed suicide with an overdose of sleeping pills.^[7]

Honors

• Spellemannsprisen 1977 in the class Best vocal for the album Winter Poem
• Buddyprisen 1982 posthumously

Discography

Solo albums

• 1977: Winter Poem (Zarepta Records) – with the Radka Toneff Quintet
• 1979: It Don't Come Easy (Zarepta Records) – with the Radka Toneff Quintet
• 1982: Fairytales (Odin Records) – with Steve Dobrogosz
• 1993: Live in Hamburg (Odin Records) – with Steve Dobrogosz, Arild Andersen, and Alex Riel (recorded in 1981)

Compilations

• 2003: Some Time Ago – A Collection Of Her Finest Moments (EmArcy Records)
• 2008: Set It Free – Et Portrett Av Radka Toneff (KRF Records)
• 2008: Butterfly (Curling Legs)

Collaborative works

• 1971: Slutt Opp, Kamerat (Plateselskapet Oktober), "Fronteatret"/«Visegruppa PS»
• 1971: Svartkatten (Flora / Arne Bendiksen), Nationaltheatret
• 1975: Lise Madsen, Moses Og De Andre (Sonet Records), with Ole Paus
• 1978: Leve Patagonia (Philips Records), with Ketil Bjørnstad