Robert Broberg

• Birth Name — Robert Karl Oskar Broberg • Alias — Robban Broberg, Zero • Born — 2 July 1940 • Birthplace — Solna, Sweden • Died — 21 July 2015 • Place of death — Stockholm, Sweden • Genre — Rock, pop • Occupation — Musician, singer, songwriter, artist • Instrument — Vocals, guitar, harmonica, piano, drums • Years Active — 1960–2015 • Label — Sonet, Triola, Capitol, EMI, Silence • Website — robertbroberg.se

Broberg was the son of engineer Georg Broberg (1906–1995) and Valborg Lindgren (1909–1997). He went to Konstfack in 1957 and made up a story about having a skiffle group. In reality, he didn't have a band, but word spread and he was offered to play with his group at the dance restaurant Lorry in Sundbybergs. Then he quickly collected musician friends and they started rehearsing. Robban (as he was then known) eventually he started writing own songs. The desire and ability to play with words was there from the start, a talent that he developed further through his many humorous texts.

It was through Hylands hörna (lit. ‘’Hyland's Corner’’) on TV that Broberg really established himself. He got involved in a revue at Gröna Lund in 1965 where he had success with his own song "Koftan". His first major record success was "Maria-Therese", a song that reached first place on Svensktoppen in 1967. Broberg submitted the song to participate in Melodifestivalen, but was not selected. Instead, it became a big hit after his appearance on the TV program Önskeprogrammet från Cirkus. Then came a series of songs, both funny, burlesque, beautiful and romantic. Examples include "Det som göms i snö", "Jag måste hejda mig" and the breakthrough song "Båtlåt" (1967), which is about two boats that fall in love with each other. In 1967, he and his much older colleague Julia Cæsar made acclaimed appearances on the radio program Thores trekvart, the same year he was the host of the radio. In 1968, he played the lead role in and wrote the music for the feature film Längta efter kärlek.

At this time, Broberg made several popular entertainment programs on TV, including Tjejjer, which was directed by Lasse Hallström, with a number of ironically hilarious songs about various female characters from Robban. The program was entered as a competition entry at the Montreux Comedy Festival in 1970. He made children's programs such as The Pling & Plong Show, where he appeared partly as himself, partly dressed as a robot. Shortly thereafter, he broke with his image as a humorous and slightly crazy wordsmith, which had already made him one of the country's most appreciated younger artists. The tone became more serious and more questioning, and on the following albums, Broberg approached the progressive music movement with titles such as ‘’Vem är det som Bromsar & Vem är det som Skjuter På?’’. He made it clear that he did not want to be called Robban anymore and in the 1970s also appeared under the name Zero. During the latter half of the 1970s, Broberg found himself at a dead end and considered quitting as an artist. In 1976, he left Sweden and settled in California and later New York for a few years. After a period of experimentation, he made a comeback with the successful one-man show Upp igen in Stockholm.

During the 1980s, a series of successful one-man shows followed at the Gröna Lund Theater in Stockholm, where Robert Broberg offered a wordy mix of music and stand-up. New songs such as "Vatten", "Killa mig på ryggen”, and "Spring inte så fort, pappa" became hits. In 1989, he received the Povel Ramel Karamelodikt Scholarship. The same year, he appeared in the short film Godnatt, herr luffare!. In 1991, he did the anniversary show "Målarock" which, after a tour around the country, filled two performances at the Globen in Stockholm to capacity. During the 1990s, he did several successful shows that toured the country and ended at the Globen. During the 2000s, his songs and stage shows increasingly became about life, aging and death. For many years, Sveriges Radio had a whistle as a vignette between programs when it said "This is Sveriges Radio P3". Broberg was the one who made the whistle.

Robert Broberg was first married from 1963 to 1975 to Eva Myhre (born 1937) from Norway and had two daughters (born 1963 and 1966 respectively) and a son (born 1972). In a cohabitation in the 1980s with Anastasia von Zweigbergk (born 1956), granddaughter of Carl-Axel von Zweigbergk, he had a third daughter (born 1981). They also collaborated on some of Broberg's albums. He was married for the second time from 1997 to 1999 to Eva Bolin (born 1959), who is the mother of his fourth daughter (born 1990). In his last years, Robert Broberg withdrew from the limelight and publicity as his health deteriorated. He died from Parkinson's disease on 21 July 2015 at the age of 75.

Sources: • Date — Released as — Album Title — Record Label — Cat. No. — Format — Notes • 1966 — Robban Broberg — Helrobban Blandar Och Ger... — Columbia — SSX 1015 — LP — Reissued by EMI in 1984 on CC, and 1998 on CD • 1967 — Robban Broberg — 7 Bitar Robban + 7 Bitar Broberg — Columbia — SSX 1027 — LP, Reel — Reissued by EMI in 1998 on CD • 1968 — Robban Broberg — Längta Efter Kärlek — Columbia — SSX 1039 — LP — Reissued by EMI in 1999 on CD • 1969 — Robert Karl-Oskar "Robban" Broberg — Tjejjer — Columbia — SSX 1048 / 4E 062-34037 — LP, 8T — Reissued by EMI in 1984 on CC, and 1999 on CD • Nov 1970 — Robert Karl Oskar Broberg — The Pling & Plong Show — Pling & Plong — PLP-1 — LP — Reissued by EMI on CD in 1999 • 1971 — Robert Karl-Oskar Broberg — En Typiskt Rund Lp Med Hål I Mitten — Pling & Plong — PLP 2 — LP, CC — Reissued by EMI on CD in 1999 • 1972 — Robert Karl-Oskar Broberg — Jag Letar Efter Mej Själv — Pling & Plong — PLP 3 — LP — Reissued by EMI on CD in 2000 • 1974 — Robert Karl Oskar Broberg — Vem Är Det Som Bromsar & Vem Är Det Som Skjuter På & Vem Är Det Som Sitter I Baksätet Med Armarna I Kors Och Tittar På? — Rkob Ab — RKOB LP-1 — LP — Reissued by EMI on CD in 2000 • 1978 — Robert Broberg — Tolv Sånger På Amerikanska — Rkob Ab — RKOB LP 2 — LP — Reissued by EMI on CD in 2000 • Jul 1979 — Robert Broberg Presenterar Zero — Motsättningar - Circle O Zero On Uma N.E. — H.K.F.T.A.T.K. — RKOB 3 — LP — Reissued by EMI on CD in 2000 • Feb 1981 — Zero — Kvinna Eller Man — Silence — SRS 4667 — LP • Oct 1981 — Zero — Am I Your New Toy — Silence — SRS 4673 — LP • 1983 — Robert Broberg — Upp Igen — H.K.F.T.A.T.K. — KAOS 4 — LP, CC — Reissued on CD in 2000 • 1985 — Robert Broberg — Raket — H.K.F.T.A.T.K. — KAOS 5 — LP, CC — Reissued by EMI on CD in 2000 • 1987 — Ree Pete & The Windshieldwipers — A Sunshine Story In The Pooring Rain — Mega Records — MRLP 3070 — LP, CC • 1988 — Robert Broberg — Morot / Raka Vägen Till Dig — H.K.F.T.A.T.K. — K8 — LP — Reissued by EMI on CD in 2000 • 1989 — Robert Broberg — Flygel Tur — Skivbolaget Nu — NU 90 — LP, CC, CD • 1991 — Robert Broberg — Robert Broberg's Höjdare — Robert Broberg Records — RBR 2 — LP, CC, CD — Double album on 2 LPs • 1993 — Robert Broberg — Målarock — Robert Broberg Records — RBR-CD/MC 2 — CC, CD • 1996 — Robert Broberg — Dubbelsångare — Robert Broberg Records — RBR-CD 4 — CD • 1999 — Robert Broberg — Robert Brobergs Nya Universrum — Robert Broberg Records — RBR-CD 5 — CD • 2001 — Robert Broberg — Nära — Robert Broberg Records — RBR-CD 6 — CD • 2004 — Robert Broberg — Gilla Läget - Med Robert Broberg Live! På Turné 2003 — Rob Art AB — Rob Art 0401 — CD — Live album recorded in 2003 • 2011 — Robert Broberg — På Cirkus Med Sitt 5-Manna Band — Nordisk Special Marketing — 1031392 — CD — Live album

Sources: • Date — Released as — A-Side — B-Side — Label — Cat. No. — Album • 1961 — Robert Broberg — När Jag Står Vid En Bar — Rik Fin Karl — Sonet — T-7516 — Non-album Singles • 1962 — Robert Broberg — Kromeo & Fulia — Sur I Bur Blues — Sonet — T-7527 • Jan 1963 — Robert Broberg — Franska Naturen — Knäppen — Triola — Td 175 • 1966 — Robban — Hej Där, Lilla Rödluvan — Opopoppa — Columbia — DS 2326 • Oct 1967 — Robban Broberg — Väderleksfelprataren — Jag Måste Hejda Mej — Columbia — DS 2364 — 7 Bitar Robban + 7 Bitar Broberg • Nov 1967 — Robban Broberg — Maria-Therese — Mej Händer Ingenting — Columbia — DS 2369 • 1968 — Robban Broberg — Det Som Göms I Snö (Fling-Fling) — När Bilar Blir Kära (Tetatut) — Columbia — DS 2374 — Non-album Singles • Apr 1968 — Robban Broberg — Äntligen Min Älskling Äntligen! — I Ett Litet Litet Hus Ska Vi Bo! Robban, Eva, Ane Och Emma Broberg — Columbia — DS 2385 • Oct 1968 — Robban Broberg — Längta Efter Kärlek — Rimma Med Robban — Columbia — DS 2406 — Längta Efter Kärlek • Oct 1968 — Robban Broberg — Din Bild Gör Mej Vild — Alla Springer Omkring — Columbia — DS 2412 • Jan 1969 — Robban Broberg — Om Du Blott Blir Min — Dans Och Spel — Columbia — DS 2426 • 1969 — Robert Karl-Oskar Broberg (Robban) — Ellen — Ingela — Columbia — 4E 006-34070 M — Tjejjer • Oct 1969 — Robert Karl-Oskar "Robban" Broberg — Carola — Mariga Mary — Columbia — DS 2458 • 1970 — Robert Karl-Oskar Broberg — Uppblåsbara Barbara — Elisabeth — Colombia — 4E 006-34087 M • 1970 — Råbet Kal-Åskar Brobärj – Robban — The Pling & Plong Song — Järnvägsövergångsång — Pling & Plong — P1 — The Pling & Plong Show • 1970 — Robert Karl-Åskar Broberg — Gubbe Röd – Gubbe Grön — Huppegupptäcktsfärd — Pling & Plong — P2 • 1971 — Robert Karl-Oskar Broberg — Tågblås — Jag Drömde Jag Var Sitting Bull — Pling & Plong — P3 • 1971 — Robert KarlOskar Broberg — Good Morning! — 1 – Hos Do You Feel-Mjölk Idag 2 – Woulle Wou Mon Change E Vieux? — Pling & Plong — P4 — En Typiskt Rund Lp Med Hål I Mitten • 1971 — Robert Karl-Oskar Broberg — Ingen BH Under Blusen – Kom Å Lek Me' Mej! — Verona — EMI — P5 • Jun 1979 — Robert Broberg — I Wanna Be a Machine — I Love Things — Spartan — SPAR 1 — Tolv Sånger På Amerikanska • 1980 — Zero — Tom Top — 2942 Didn't I Tell You — Silence — ZING 111 — Kvinna Eller Man • Aug 1980 — Zero — Nothing's Gonna Stop Me Now — (I've Got A) Mistress Called Creativity — Metronome — J 27.195 — Non-album Singles • 1984 — Robert Broberg — Beachparty — Det Står Skrivet I Sanden — H.K.F.T.A.T.K. — KAOS 5 • 1987 — Robert Broberg — Killa Mej PÅ Ryggen! — Spring Inte Så Fort Pappa! — H.K.F.T.A.T.K. — KAOS 7 — Morot: Raka Vägen Till Dej • 1990 — Robert Broberg — Jag Tror På Kärleken — Pling Plong Song — Robert Broberg Records [EMI] — RBR 1 — Robert Broberg's Höjdare • 1991 — Robert Broberg — Ta På Dej Den Röda Jumpern, Baby — Hör Mina Lockrop! — Robert Broberg Records — RBR-S 2 • 1992 — Robert Broberg — Galleri — Galleri — Rob Art AB — Rob Art Start — Målarock

• Date — Released as — A-Side — B-Side — Label — Cat. No. — Album • 1965 — Robert Broberg — 1 – När Du Går 2 – Det Finns Bara Hon — 1 – Höst, Vinter, Vår, Och, Sommar 2 – Jag Behöver Dig — Triola — TEP 57 — Non-album EPs • Mar 1967 — Robban — 1 – Hans Och Greta 2 – Gummimadrassen — 1 – Båtlåt 2 – Dente Klokt = I'm A Nut — Columbia — SEGS 148 • Oct 1967 — Robban Broberg — 1 – Maria-Therese 2 – Bättre En Fågel I Handen — 1 – Taxifiket 2 – Medan Årstider Kommer Och Går — Columbia — SEGS 148 — 7 Bitar Robban + 7 Bitar Broberg

• Date — Title — Record Label — Cat. No. — Format — Notes • 1966 — Robert Sjunger Broberg — Music For Pleasure — MFP 5566 — LP, CC • 1979 — De 20 Mest Önskade Med Robert Broberg — EMI — 7C 062-35689 — LP, CC — Recorded 1961-1972 – Reissued in 1990 on CD, and 1992 on CC • 1987 — 1962-72 / Collection — EMI — EMISP 132 — LP — 2 × LPs – Released as "Robban" • 1994 — Robert Broberg — Pickwick Music — 751143 — CD, CC — Recorded 1966-1969 • 1997 — Robert Bro-berg & Dalbana - 57 År På Benen Varav 40 På Scenen — EMI — 7243 823003 2 8 — CD — 4 × CDs • 1997 — Robert Bro-berg & Dalbana - Tredje Åket — EMI — 724382300625 — CD • 2000 — Älskade Original — EMI — EMI-7243 -5260472 — CD • 2001 — Klassiker — EMI Svenska AB — CMCD 6272, 7243 5327352 1 — CD — Recorded 1967-1999 • 2004 — Diamanter — EMI — 7243 5 96154 2 4 — CD — 2 × CDs – Recorded 1966-1972 • 2009 — Text & Musik — EMI — 50999 456822 2 3 — CD — 2 × CDs – Recorded 1969-2009 • 2012 — 5 CD Original Album Serien — EMI — 50999 623639 2 1 — CD — 5 × CDs – Boxset of albums recorded 1967-1972 • 2015: Text & Musik

(Selective) • Carola • Ingela • Uppblåsbara Barbara • Likbil • Båtlåt • Öken • Maria-Therese • 1983 års ängel • Lajla 1 • Vatten • Alla springer omkring • Sitting Bull • Om kärleken var statsminister • Pappa se min hand • Vinna med min kvinna • Får jag doppa min mjukglass i din strössel

• Date — Title — Label — Cat. No. — Format — Notes • 2010 — På Globen Med Höjdare Och Målarock — Universal Studios — SSD8276900 — DVD — 3 DVDs – 1969 to 1996 • 2011 — På Cirkus Med Sitt 5-Manna Band — Nordisk Special Marketing — 2003631 — DVD — Recorded in 2010 • 2012 — The Pling & Plong Show — Nordisk Special Marketing — 2078431 — DVD — Recorded in 1970

• 1965: 4 x 4 – Frank Citter • 1968: Längta efter kärlek – Bosse • 1981: Kom igen nu'rå! (TV Short) – Pelle • 1982: Kan tigrar få ägg? (TV Short) – Totte • 1987: Ree Pete and the Windshieldwipers (TV Movie) – Ree Pete • 1988: Go'natt Herr Luffare (Short) – Pappa (final film role)