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Tapio Rautavaara Biography |
The multitalented Tapio Rautavaara (March 8, 1915 - September 25, 1979) of Finland was successful and famous as an athlete, performing artist and actor. He won the gold medal in the javelin at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London and many other top placements in international javelin competitions. He was also a member of the Finnish winning team in the archery World Championships of 1958. Picture on the right is an "official" fan picture from 1946, that highlighted both of his roles.
His mellow, sentimental recordings are still somewhat popular. His version of the Johnny Cash mainstay I Walk the Line given the title Yölinjalla (and transformed into a song about a long haul truck-driver) is one of the most frequently played recordings played on the radio on nights. Another perennial favorite is his recording of the Reino Helismaa's song Päivänsäde ja Menninkäinen (about a sprite of daylight and a nocturnal troll, and their doomed romance).
Rautavaara acted in numerous Finnish films, and was also supposedly a candidate for the part of Tarzan after Johnny Weissmuller quit his career.
His memorial is located in the centre of Helsinki's Oulunkylä district, where Rautavaara spent most of his life.
Rautavaara's most renowned recordings:
Päivänsäde ja menninkäinen, 1949/1965
Reissumies ja kissa, 1949
Kulkuri ja joutsen, 1950
Isoisän olkihattu, 1951/1964
Ontuva Eriksson, 1951
Sininen uni, 1952
Juokse sinä humma, 1953
Kulkuriveljeni Jan, 1956
Yölinjalla, 1962
Tuopin jäljet, 1963
En päivääkään vaihtaisi pois, 1979
Rautavaara's filmography:
Vain sinulle (1945)
Synnin jäljet (1946)
Kuudes käsky (1947)
Kultamitalivaimo (1947)
Sinut minä tahdon (1949)
Aila, Pohjolan tytär (1951)
Rion yö (1951)
Salakuljettajan laulu (1952)
Pekka Puupää (1953)
2 hauskaa vekkulia (1953)
Me tulemme taas (1953)
Kummituskievari (1954)
Veteraanin voitto (1955)
Villi Pohjola (1955)
Kaunis Kaarina (1955)
Kahden ladun poikki (1958)
Molskis, sanoi Eemeli, molskis! (1960)
Tähtisumua (1961)
X-paroni (1964)
Anna (1970) |
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