Biography:

Lars “Lasse” Nils Berghagen (13 May 1945 – 19 October 2023)^[1][2] was a Swedish singer and songwriter. He represented Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 with the song “Jennie,Jennie”, and he is also known for presenting Allsång på Skansen on Swedish television.

Berghagen died on 19 October 2023, at the age of 78.^[2] The cause was complications following cardiac surgery^[3].

Early career

Berghagen were discovered by record producer Curt Pettersson at the record label Karusell, at the age of 19 while Berghagen performed at an NTO-party in Enköping.^[4]

He released his first record in 1965, and in 1969 he wrote the song “Teddybjörnen Fredriksson” the same year he appeared in Svensktoppen with the song “Gunga Gunga”.^[5] Over the years Berghagen have appeared with numerous songs on Svensktoppen, with songs like “En enkel sång om frihet”, “Hålligång i skogen” and “Du som vandrar genom livet”.^[6] During the 1960s, Berghagen collaborated with Benny Andersson, and together they wrote songs like “Hej clown” and “Sagan om lilla Sofie”.^[7]

Theater, music and books

Between 1968 and 1974, he played with the Kar de Mumma revue at Folkan where his character an tango charmer Flirty Knut was one of his most beloved characters.^[8] He went on to play in different comedy shows at theaters like Sängkammarfars (1979) and Spanska flugan (1981) at the Vasan.^[9] In 1974, he did his first krogshow (bar show) Breda leenden at Berns. In 1985, he did his own musical at Chinateatern called Världens galenskap. He returned to Chinateatern in 2003 with the revue Chinarevyn co-starring with Magnus Härenstam and Sissela Kyle.^[10] Berghagen have also acted in films like Firmafesten (1972), spelade Dante, akta’re för Hajen (1978) and Bert – den siste oskulden (1995).^[10]

During the 1980s, he was the chairman of Föreningen Artister Mot Narkotika (FAMN).^[11] Berghagen also has had an career in Germany where he released records, and appeared on German TV.^[12] He also done shows with Hasse Andersson in Hasses lada.^[13] In 1993, he released poems with the book I mina blommiga sandaler. In 2010, Berghagen appeared in the first season of the TV4 show Så mycket bättre.^[14]

Berghagen is considered one of Sweden’s most beloved and popular singers, he received a lot of recognition for presenting the SVT show Allsång på Skansen between 1994 and 2003.^[9] During his time as presenter the show went from having 600 thousand viewers to over 2 million viewers. Berghagen has also presented the SVT shows Strapetz (1971), Positiva Klubben (1984) and Tjocka släkten (1991). ^[9]

Berghagen won Melodifestivalen 1975 with the song “Jennie Jennie”, at the Eurovision Song Contest 1975 his song placed eight.^[15] He also participated in Melodifestivalen 1974 with the song Min kärlekssång till dig, which placed second after ABBA.^[16]

Berghagen have been awarded for his work several times.^[17] Amongst them the Lennart Hyland TV award, winning 100.000 (SEK) for his work as television presenter. In 2002, he was awared the S:t Eriksmedaljen by Stockholm municipality board.^[5] He received the Illis quorum meruere labores of the eight size with blue ribbon in 2003.^[18]

In 2010, Berghagen and the rest of the participants won an Kristallen award for participation in Så mycket bättre in TV4.^[17] In 2021, he was awared the Cornelis Vreeswijk-scholarship.^[16]

Personal life

Berghagen is the son of professor and dentist Nils Berghagen, nee Nilsson (1909–1995), and nurse Britta, nee Lindstedt (1908–1997).^[19]

Berghagen was between 1965 and 1968, married to singer Lill-Babs.^[9] Together the couple have a daughter named Malin Berghagen born in 1966. Since 1976, he has been married to Eva Berghagen nee Strand. And the couple have a daughter named Maria Berghagen Enander born in 1976.^[9]

Credits:

Wikipedia