Kenneth Gärdestad

John Charles Kenneth Gärdestad (9 May 1948 – 3 March 2018)[1] was a Swedish songwriter, best known for writing lyrics for the songs of his brother, Ted Gärdestad. He participated at Melodifestivalen 1979 as a songwriter for the winning song "Satellit" performed by his brother. The song went on to Eurovision the same year, where it placed 17th. Gärdestad was also an architect, affiliated to the private Kunskapsskolan, where he designed the interior of several of its high schools. Gärdestad published the biography Jag vill ha en egen måne in 2005. In later years he became a mental health activist, and created the "Ted Gärdestad Stipend", a prize awarded to amateur singers and songwriter.

Kenneth Gärdestad
Kenneth Gärdestad presenting the Ted Gärdestad Stipend, May 2016
Born
John Charles Kenneth Gärdestad

(1948-05-09)9 May 1948
Sollentuna, Sweden
Died3 March 2018(2018-03-03) (aged 69)
Sollentuna, Sweden
Occupation(s)Songwriter, lyricist, architect
Musical career
GenresSoft rock, vispop
Years active1970s–2018
LabelsPolar

Music career

Gärdestad was a songwriter who co-wrote lyrics for many of his younger brother Ted Gärdestad's (1956–1997) songs. This included his Melodifestivalen song entries "Oh, vilken härlig dag" in 1973 and "Rockin' 'n' Reelin'" in 1975.[2] As such, Gärdestad also won Melodifestivalen 1979 with Ted's song "Satellit".[2] The song went on to represent Sweden in Eurovision 1979, finishing 17th during the final held in Jerusalem.[3]

Gärdestad also competed in 2008 in the SVT music show Doobidoo along with Lotta Engberg.[4] He took part again in Melodifestivalen in 2010, with lyrics for "Hur kan jag tro på kärlek?" performed by singer Erik Linder. The song placed fifth in the semi-final and was eliminated.[5] In 2016, he was awarded the Musikförläggarnas pris, an honorary award for "many years of work for Swedish music and for creating timeless stories which he shares".[6] In 2018, he won an honorary Grammis award, citing "his many years in the music industry and for his work in it, and many wonderful lyrics."[7]

Tributes to his brother

Gärdestad, with Keijo Liimatainen, wrote Jag vill ha en egen måne (2005), a biography about his brother Ted and the circumstances surrounding his suicide in 1997.[8] In 2018, a biographical film about his brother, Ted: För kärlekens skull, was released.[9] Gärdestad took part in creating realistic scenes for the film and gave it his support.[10] Peter Viitanen portrayed Kenneth Gärdestad in the film.[9]

Gärdestad was a special guest on the show Så mycket bättre in 2016, which was broadcast on Swedish national television station TV4.[11] The last episode of the 2016 season featured the season's chosen singers performing several of his brother's well-known hits,[11] including "Helt nära dig" (interpreted by Little Jinder), "Sommarlängtan" (by Magnus Carlson), "Himlen är oskyldigt blå" (by Jill Johnson), "505 to Casablanca" (by Freddie Wadling), "Sol, vind och vatten" (by Lisa Ekdahl), "I den stora sorgens famn" (by Tommy Nilsson) and "För kärlekens skull" (by Danny Saucedo).[12]

Architecture work

Gärdestad was head architect at Kunskapsskolan from 2008 until his death, and designed many of the schools' rooms.[13][14] Kunskapsskolan (literally The Knowledge School) is a Swedish network of independent schools that provides education for students from grades 4 to 9 (ages 10 to 16).[14] It also provides gymnasium schools for grades 10 to 12 (ages 16 to 19) in different areas of Sweden.[14] Designed by Gärdestad, the architecture is very open, with glass and colourfully painted walls.[15] There are 36 Kunskapskolan schools in Sweden.[16]

Activism

Gärdestad worked to educate and create understanding about psychological illness after his brother Ted's mental illness and suicide in 1997.[17] He was the creator of the annual "Ted Gärdestad Stipend" awarded to amateur singers and songwriters since 1999 to promote their work.[18] The prize includes a tribute concert.[19][20][21]

Personal life

Gärdestad's brother Ted was a noted Swedish singer who represented Sweden in Eurovision with one of Kenneth's songs.[2] Their other brother Kjell (1944–2000) was also a songwriter who co-wrote the song "Viking" with Ted.[22]

Death

Kenneth Gärdestad revealed in 2014 that he was suffering from skin cancer and latent lymphoma.[23][24] He died on 3 March 2018, aged 69.[25][26]

Bibliography
  • Gärdestad, Kenneth; Liimatainen, Keijo (2005). Jag vill ha en egen måne: boken om Ted Gärdestad [I want my own moon: The book about Ted Gärdestad] (in Swedish). Stockholm: Forum. ISBN 91-37-12733-0. SELIBR 9876123.[8]

Awards

References
  1. "Kenneth Gärdestad är död – låtskrivaren blev 69 år gammal". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  2. "Lista: Ted Gärdestads tio bästa låtar". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 4 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  3. "Ted Gärdestad hyllasi Så mycket bättre" (in Swedish). TV4. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  4. "Kronér: Jag trodde jag skulle svimma". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  5. "Kenneth Gärdestad gör comeback i Melodifestivalen". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 14 October 2009. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  6. "Kenneth Gärdestad får Musikförläggarnas hederspris 2016" (in Swedish). Musikförläggarna. 3 November 2016. Archived from the original on 22 January 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  7. "Grammis 2018 – vinnarna" (in Swedish). Grammisgalan. 8 February 2018. Archived from the original on 12 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  8. Spektra (18 October 2006). "Stipendium till Kenneth Gärdestad". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  9. "Kenneth Gärdestad om filmen: 'Väldigt vackert slut'". Året Runt (in Swedish). 12 December 2017. Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  10. "Kenneth Gärdestad: Vi har haft ett gott samarbete". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 3 January 2018. Archived from the original on 1 April 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  11. "Ett av de allra bästa "Så mycket bättre"-avsnitten någonsin". Aftonbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  12. "Så mycket bättre del 8" (in Swedish). TV4play.se. Archived from the original on 26 February 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2018.
  13. Klefberg, Eric (20 September 2008). "Arkitekten bakom framgångarna". Borås Tidning (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 September 2019. Retrieved 22 September 2019.
  14. Thunberg, Karin (8 January 2017). "Kenneth Gärdestad: Det var ju Ted och jag (SvD Premium)". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  15. Thunberg, Karin (8 January 2017). "Berättade i intervju med SvD: "Det var ju Ted och jag" (SvD Premium)". Svenska Dagbladet (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  16. "Kunskapsskolan". Archived from the original on 11 February 2017. Retrieved 8 February 2017.
  17. "Ted Gärdestads mörka år före sin död". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 22 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  18. "Ted Gärdestad-Galan med stipendieutdelningen på Liseberg, Göteborg 20/6" (in Swedish). Blaskan.nu. Archived from the original on 26 July 2014. Retrieved 17 July 2014.
  19. Gärdestad & Liimatainen 2005, pp. 194–195.
  20. "Janne Schaffer hyllar vännen Ted Gärdestad" (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  21. "Succéföreställningen om Ted Gärdestad har snart nypremiär med ny slagverkare" (in Swedish). newsdesk.se. Archived from the original on 2 October 2011. Retrieved 27 January 2009.
  22. Sveriges dödbok 1947–2006, CD-ROM, Sveriges Släktforskarförbund
  23. "Ted Gärdestads bror svårt sjuk". Corren (in Swedish). 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 29 January 2021. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  24. "Kenneth Gärdestad orkar inte besöka filminspelningen: Jag hoppas överleva". Dagens Nyheter (in Swedish). 19 June 2017. Archived from the original on 10 February 2018. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
  25. "Kenneth Gärdestad är död – avled i morse". Expressen (in Swedish). Archived from the original on 3 March 2018. Retrieved 3 March 2018.
  26. "Kenneth Gärdestad is dead – became 69 years old". tech2.org. Archived from the original on 6 March 2018. Retrieved 6 March 2018.
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