Benny Andersen is a Danish song-writer, poet, author, composer and pianist. He is the most widely read, most often sung and best loved of modern Danish lyricists, often associated with his collaboration with Povl Dissing. His collected poems (Samlede digte) have sold over 100,000 copies. His best known work is Svante's Songs (Svantes viser) from 1972.

He has been a member of the Danish Academy

Danish Academy

Danish Academy is an independent organisation founded in 1960 by a circle of Danish intellectuals "to promote Danish esprit and language, especially within the field of literature". It has up to 20 members, currently 18, and is based at Rungstedlund, the former home of author Karen Blixen who was...

(det Danske Akademi) since 1972.

Sources

• Biography from biografi.dk (in Danish).
• Benny Andersen - Biography from Litteratur.dk (in Danish).
• Benny Andersen - Literature prizes (in Danish).