Jonas Petter Berggren (born 21 March 1967) is a Swedish musician and singer-songwriter and record producer, also known as Joker. He started writing songs when he was seven, and continues to write for the Swedish band Ace of Base, which he is a founding member of, as well as other bands. He was born in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Jonas Berggren
Jonas Berggren in Finland, 2008
Jonas Berggren in Finland, 2008
Background information
Birth nameJonas Petter Berggren
Also known asJoker
Born (1967-03-21) 21 March 1967 (age 57)
Gothenburg, Sweden
GenresPop
Occupation(s)Singer, guitarist, keyboardist, songwriter, producer
Instrument(s)Voice, guitar, keyboards
Years active1987–present

Biography edit

Early life edit

Jonas Petter Berggren was the first child of three siblings; his younger sisters are Linn and Jenny. Jonas was born with a cleft lip, undergoing three surgeries within his first year. He became interested in music when he was 10, after his father started teaching him to play the guitar.[1]

Career edit

As the founding member of Ace of Base, Berggren has written all of their biggest hits, including "All That She Wants", "The Sign", and "Beautiful Life". He also plays the guitar and keyboards.[2] Working under the artist name of "Joker" (or, in some later works, JP), Berggren nowadays also has his own studio, called The Barn. The former female members of Ace of Base, Linn and Jenny Berggren, are his sisters. He also worked with DJ Bobo, Army of Lovers, E-Type and Meja.[3]

Jonas was also the producer and composer for the album Pride by Swedish pop group Yaki-Da, in 1995.

Writing for Ace of Base edit

Berggren has contributed to writing all Ace of Base's material, except the following:

  • "Don't Turn Around" (Cover: Diane Warren & Albert Hammond)
  • "Edge of Heaven" (Ulf, John Ballard, & StoneStream)
  • "Strange Ways" (Malin)
  • "Ravine" (Jenny)
  • "Perfect World" (Ulf, John Ballard, & StoneStream)
  • "Whispers in Blindness" (Malin)
  • "Wave Wet Sand" (Jenny)
  • "Que Sera" (Ulf, John Ballard, & StoneStream)
  • "Just 'N' Image" (Malin)
  • "Experience Pearls" (Jenny)
  • "Mercy Mercy" (Ulf and John Ballard)
  • "He Decides" (Jenny)
  • "Everytime It Rains" (B. Steinberg, R. Nowels, M. Vidal)
  • "I Pray" (Ulf and John Ballard)
  • "Don't Go Away" (Ulf and John Ballard)
  • "Cruel Summer" (Cover: S. Dallin, S. Fahey, S. Jolley, A. Swain & K. Woodward)
  • "Wonderful Life" (Cover: Black)
  • "Juliet" (Cover; Henry Bergström & Peter Bergström)

Personal life edit

He married Norwegian hairdresser Birthe Haugland on 12 July 2000 whom he met during a cruise in Norway in the summer of 1996. Together they have four children: Julia, born in 1999, Gabriel, born in 2001, Amanda, born in 2006, and Molly, born in 2008.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "Jonas Berggren". Ace of Base Planet. Archived from the original on 23 December 2014. Retrieved 23 December 2014.
  2. ^ Erlewine, Stephen Thomas. "Biography: Ace of Base". AMG. Retrieved 20 May 2010.
  3. ^ Steffen Hung. "Jonas Berggren". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved 30 June 2014.
  4. ^ "ace of base - www.aceisland.de". Archived from the original on 6 April 2009.

External links edit