Biography:

Jaakko Sakari Teppo ( 16 February 1953 Iisalmi ^[1] – 26 February 2024 Joensuu ^[2] ) was a Finnish couplet singer , folk artist , satirist and troubadour . Especially in his production, both musically and in poetry , the dialect of his home region, Savo and North Karelia , the rural culture and social problems that his satire is aimed at are on display. Tepo was referred to as ” Ruikonperä’s earth cucumber” and “Karelian Savoie.” Teppo had publicly said that his views were left-wing . ^[3]

Jaakko Tepo used to mirror social issues through the events of the fictional village of Ruikonperä, especially the doings and being of its residents such as Toivo “Topi” Ryynänen , Veikko Römpäinen and Visa PA Kottinen.

Tepo’s most famous songs are “Pamela”, “Pilkilla”, ” Hilma ja Onni “, “Mikko-sika Mallorcalla”, “Töttömön veisu”, “Ieva”, “Rötösrock” and “Sammakkoprinssi”.

Couplet star of the whole nation

Jaakko Teppo studied mechanical engineering. He didn’t get the papers until 35 years later. ^[4] He has never done a job corresponding to his education. The gig, in the name of maintaining the tradition of couplet singing, was first directed to the surrounding areas, but later also to the capital region .

In 1978 and 1979, Teppo won the Finnish couplet singing championship, thanks to which the popularity and tour pace increased even more.

“Ruikonperä’s multakurku” was at its peak of popularity in the 1980s and 1990s, when there were six CDs worth of couplet songs. It is said that Teppo would have written and composed new songs in parking lots and even on the steering wheel of a car. In between, he still had time to work as a campaigner in newspapers, for example in the Karjalan Heili magazine ^[5] and on the radio. In 1984, he was chosen as Finland’s sexiest male performer. Among others , Urpo Martikainen and Ilkka ” Frederik ” Sysimetsä were left behind in the race. 1992 Jaakko Teppo was elected Entertainer of the Year .

From an illness to the popularity of a new generation

Jaakko Tepo’s successful career was interrupted in 1995 by a cerebral infarction , which was partly triggered by Tepo’s unsuccessful attempt to publish the free magazine Piällysmiät in Iisalmi . This, together with the ensuing debt burden, led Tepo to a disability pension . In addition to his half pension, Tepo was granted a state artist’s pension . He stopped gigging, but continued to write stories in magazines. In 2008, Jaakko Teppo was still writing regularly for the Karjalan Heili free distribution magazine published in Joensuu. ^[6]

In the 2000s, Tepo’s songs have been performed by his sons Ilja and Johannes and Sössölandia’s Kultakurkut band, featuring Ismo and Ilkka Alanko and Cyde Hyttinen . In 2009, the Pörsänmäki Sanomat tribute album was released , where Tepo’s songs are performed by Nightwish , Kotiteollisuus , Happoradio , Värttinä , Jarkko Martikainen , Eläkeläiset and several other Finnish artists. In the 2000s, the Turnusband orchestra has also covered Jaakko Tepo’s songs with a heavier touch. ^[7]

On July 16, 2006, a Jaakko Teppo-themed DVD titled Onnen kerjäläiset ^[8] was released .

In connection with the Popkatu event in Joensuu , the Jaakko Teppo evening was held on July 10, 2007, when the Karjala municipalities 1984 recording and the Jaakko Teppo singing competition were announced. The Karelian municipalities recording was recorded in Joensuu at the Karelian Fair in 1984.

In April 2008, Tepo’s most comprehensive compilation publication until then, Jälkitauti – All Recordings 1980–1986, was published . The collection, published in the form of a double CD, contains a total of 56 performances, including 15 previously unreleased home recordings from the period before the first album.

In July 2009, the collection was continued, when the double CD Sammakkoprinssi – All recordings 1987–1993 was released . The collection contains 63 performances, about a fifth of which are previously unpublished.

In the fall of 2009, he started his tour “Onnen kerjäläiset – Jaakko Teppo the musical”, which also toured the country in 2010.

From 2010, Jaakko Teppo worked as a background influencer in Fun Pandemia, a riverside entertainment company founded by his sons Ilja and Johannes ^[9] .

The Ruikonperä Symphony ^[10] – Jaakko Teppo 70th anniversary concerts were organized in Kuopio on August 15, 2023 and Joensuu on August 17, 2023.

Aleksis Kiven Seura awarded Tepo the Esko wood label recognition award 2017.

Private life

Jaakko Teppo was a keen trotting enthusiast and also owned a share of the Finnish horse himself . ^[11]

The musicians Ilja and Johannes Teppo are the sons of Jaakko Tepo. ^[12]

Credits:

Wikipedia