Svein Arne Øvergaard (1 January 1912 in Kristiania (Oslo) – 23 November 1986 in Oslo) was a Norwegian resistance member, boxer and jazz musician (saxophone, percussion) and band leader, married to Gunhild Øvergaard (born Sandberg, 1912–1996), and known from the jazz scenes of Oslo.[1][2]

Svein Øvergaard
Øvergaards orchestra Oslo, 1939. Øvergaard is no. 2 from the right.
Øvergaards orchestra Oslo, 1939. Øvergaard is no. 2 from the right.
Background information
Birth nameSvein Arne Øvergaard
Born(1912-01-01)1 January 1912
Kristiania, Norway (Oslo)
OriginNorway
Died23 November 1986(1986-11-23) (aged 74)
Oslo, Norway
Occupation(s)Musician, band leader
Instrument(s)Drums, percussion, saxophone
LabelsGemini Music

Biography edit

Øvergaard played in Willie Vieth's Kaba Orchestra and as leader of the mighty popular Funny Boys (1932–39), he was among the first Norwegian jazz musicians to be known outside of Norway.[1] From 1937 he led since his own orchestra, including with bassist Fred Lange-Nielsen, drummer Per Gregersen, guitarist Finn Westbye, saxophonist Arvid Gram Paulsen, and clarinetist Einar Gustavsen. He also collaborated frequently with drummer Pete Brown and guitarist Robert Normann.

In 1938 he was Norwegian champion in boxing, junior light heavyweight, for the Boxing Club Pugilist. During World War II, he vent to the United Kingdom and became part of Linge Company with telegraph as main work.[2]

Discography edit

With Funny Boys
  • 2001: Jazz in Norway vol. 2 1938-43 (RCA)[3]

References edit

  1. ^ a b Opsahl, Carl Petter (2009-02-13). "Svein Øvergaard". Biography (in Norwegian). Norsk Biografisk Leksikon. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  2. ^ a b Kristiansen, Steinar (2010-03-17). "Jazz i Norge - en utenlandsk utfordring" (in Norwegian). University of Oslo. Retrieved 2015-01-02.
  3. ^ "Funny Boys". Nasjonalbiblioteket. Retrieved 2015-01-02.

External links edit

  • Picture of his orchestra (1939) at Norsk jazzarkiv