Ray Adams(1931-2003)
- Actor
- Soundtrack
Ray Adams was the Norwegian singer and entertainer that got neigbouring
Sweden to sing to hits like "Violetta" and "De tusen sjöars land" in
the 1960s. He was born Ragnar Asbjørnsen in Oslo, Norway, in 1931 and
it was there his career started in the late 1950s. He would however
become enormously popular in Norway's neigbouring country Sweden. When
the first ever "Top 10" hit radio show was broadcast in Sweden in
october 1961, and the votes where in, Ray Adams came in second with his
song "Violetta", followed by artists like Cliff Richard and Pat Boone. The
following year Adams was a huge hit, touring Swedish folk-parks
together with international stars like "Bonanza" star Michael Landon. That
summer he managed to do 180 shows in a few months. Through his career
he recorded over 400 albums. Adams eventually moved to Sweden and never
lost grip on his audience, despite several brakes from showbiz. Swedish
entertainer Christer Peters, who toured with Adams as late as 2001
said: "If it said Ray Adams on the poster, the audience would show up.
Everybody could sing along, he was really popular." Adams was supposed
to continue touring with Peters again in 2003, but his health quickly
declined and on early monday, August 4th 2003, he passed away from
leukemia at the age of 72. He was survived by his wife of many years,
Astrid, and their daughter Torild.