Kalle Moraeus

Affiliated with the groups Orsa Spelmän and Benny Andersson's Orkester, Kalle Moraeus is a Swedish multi-instrumentalist with a folk music style who was awarded the Karamelodiktstipendiet prize in 2006, and whose album, Underbart, was a Top Ten hit on the Swedish charts in 2010. Born on July 15, 1963, in Orsa, Dalarnas län, Sweden, he is credited with playing guitar, violin, zither, banjo, bouzouki, and other stringed instruments. A folk music sextet founded in 1987 by former ABBA member Benny Andersson, Orsa Spelmän released albums including Orsa Spelmän (1988), Fiolen Min (1990), Ödra (1998), and Orsa Nästa! (2006). Also founded by Andersson, Benny Andersson's Orkester released albums including Benny Andersson's Orkester (2001), BAO! (2004), BAO! på Turné (2006), BAO 3 (2007), and Story of a Heart (2009). As a solo artist, Moraeus made his eponymous album debut in 1991. The album features contributions from Andersson, Ted Gärdestad, and Ale Möller, among other prominent Swedish music artists. Two decades later, Moraeus reached the Top Ten of the Swedish albums chart with the full-length solo effort Underbart (2010). The commercial success of the album was in large part due to the Top 20 hit single "Underbart," with which Moraeus and Orsa Spelmän competed at the Melodifestivalen 2010. Also on his own, Moraeus was given the Povel Ramel-awarded Karamelodiktstipendiet prize in 2006. In addition to his solo output, Moraeus collaborated with Bengan Janson in the duo Kalle & Bengan, which resulted in the albums Live in Köttsjön (2001) and Julens Bästa Vänner (2005), and he teamed up with Hej Kalle for the album Bitå (2003). ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi