Jyrki Hämäläinen
Encyclopedia
Jyrki Hämäläinen was a Finnish
magazine editor who also authored several biographies of prominent figures in Finnish pop culture. Hämäläinen was the former editor of Suosikki, a magazine which focuses on the country's pop music
scene. Hämäläinen also worked as an MC, concert promoter, columnist
and producer.
Jyrki Hämäläinen was the editor of Suosikki, a teen magazine
, from 1968 until his retirement from the publication
in 2002. Hämäläinen was well known for interviewing high profile celebrities including The Rolling Stones
, Muhammad Ali
and Elvis Presley
. Hämäläinen, who often had his photograph taken with the celebrity whom he was interviewing, was nicknamed the "king of the backstage passes."
Hämäläinen also authored several biographies of leading people within Finnish popular culture. The subjects of his writings included Olavi Virta
(born 1915 - died 1972), a Finnish tango singer; Urpo Lahtinen
(born 1931 - died 1994), a media mogul and the founder of the gossip magazine, Hymy
; and Finnish singer Ilkka “Danny” Lipsanen
.
Jyrki Hämäläinen died suddenly at the age of 65 at his home in Espoo, Finland, on 18 March 2008. Hämäläinen had complained of stress and had been hospitalized due to illness for a short time before he died.
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
magazine editor who also authored several biographies of prominent figures in Finnish pop culture. Hämäläinen was the former editor of Suosikki, a magazine which focuses on the country's pop music
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
scene. Hämäläinen also worked as an MC, concert promoter, columnist
Columnist
A columnist is a journalist who writes for publication in a series, creating an article that usually offers commentary and opinions. Columns appear in newspapers, magazines and other publications, including blogs....
and producer.
Jyrki Hämäläinen was the editor of Suosikki, a teen magazine
Teen magazine
Teen magazines are magazines aimed at female teenage readers. They usually consist of gossip, news, fashion tips and interviews and may include posters, stickers, small samples of cosmetics or other products and inserts. Magazines targeting teenage boys are not often called teen...
, from 1968 until his retirement from the publication
Publication
To publish is to make content available to the public. While specific use of the term may vary among countries, it is usually applied to text, images, or other audio-visual content on any medium, including paper or electronic publishing forms such as websites, e-books, Compact Discs and MP3s...
in 2002. Hämäläinen was well known for interviewing high profile celebrities including The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones
The Rolling Stones are an English rock band, formed in London in April 1962 by Brian Jones , Ian Stewart , Mick Jagger , and Keith Richards . Bassist Bill Wyman and drummer Charlie Watts completed the early line-up...
, Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali
Muhammad Ali is an American former professional boxer, philanthropist and social activist...
and Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
. Hämäläinen, who often had his photograph taken with the celebrity whom he was interviewing, was nicknamed the "king of the backstage passes."
Hämäläinen also authored several biographies of leading people within Finnish popular culture. The subjects of his writings included Olavi Virta
Olavi Virta
Olavi Virta was a Finnish singer, acclaimed as the king of Finnish tango. Between 1939 and 1966 he recorded almost 600 songs, many of which are classics of Finnish popular music, and appeared in many films and theatrical productions...
(born 1915 - died 1972), a Finnish tango singer; Urpo Lahtinen
Urpo Lahtinen
Urpo Lahtinen was a Finnish magazine publisher. He was born on 22 April 1931 in Helsinki and died in 1994. Urpo Lahtinen started his journalistic career in 1952 writing for the Social Democratic paper Eteenpäin in Kotka, continuing in Kansan Lehti of Tampere...
(born 1931 - died 1994), a media mogul and the founder of the gossip magazine, Hymy
Hymy
Hymy is a Finnish magazine, which was launched in 1959 by publisher Urpo Lahtinen and was named after his wife Hymy Lahtinen. In the 1960s and 1970s Hymy became a success with sensationalist stories containing lots of sex and gossip about Finnish celebrities, often verging on the invasion of privacy...
; and Finnish singer Ilkka “Danny” Lipsanen
Ilkka Lipsanen
Ilkka Johannes Lipsanen , also known as Danny, is a Finnish singer and guitarist. He started his career with the band Islanders who released a couple of singles, among them Danny's first recording which was in English: East Virginia by Joan Baez in 1964...
.
Jyrki Hämäläinen died suddenly at the age of 65 at his home in Espoo, Finland, on 18 March 2008. Hämäläinen had complained of stress and had been hospitalized due to illness for a short time before he died.