Radka Toneff

Radka Toneff studied at Oslo Conservatory of Music. The recorded working language is Norwegian. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are jazz. Distinctions recorded are Spellemann Award for singer of the year, Buddyprisen, Spellemann Award for jazz record of the year and Rockheim Hall of Fame.

• Name — Radka Toneff • Birth Name — Ellen Radka Toneff • Born — 25 June 1952 • Birthplace — Oslo, Norway • Died — 21 October 1982 • Place of death — Oslo, Norway • Origin — Norway • Instrument — Vocals • Genre — Jazz • Occupation — Musician, composer

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 a changing lineup. including musicians like Arild Andersen, Jon Balke, Jon Eberson and Jon Christensen, among others. Since 1979 she collaborated with Steve Dobrogosz. In 1980 she participated in the Norwegian national final of the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Parken" by Ole Paus. 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. The Radka Toneff Memorial Award is based on a fund created with royalties from the albums Fairytales and Live in Hamburg. She lived with bassist Arild Andersen for some years, though she was involved with jazz drummer Audun Kleive at the time of her death. A biography of Toneff was published in 2008. Toneff had roots in Bulgaria, and she grew up in 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. 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.

• 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)

• 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