Tommy Körberg facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Tommy Körberg
Körberg in 2009
Background information
Birth name	Bert Gustav Tommy Körberg
Born	(1948-07-04) 4 July 1948 (age 77)
Origin	Norsjö, Sweden
Genres	Pop, Schlager
Occupation(s)	Singer, actor, musician

Bert Gustav Tommy Körberg (born 4 July 1948) is a famous Swedish singer, actor, and musician. Many people know him for his role as Anatoly, also called "The Russian," in the musical Chess.

He first played this role on a special album in 1984. Then, he performed it live in London's West End in 1986. He has played this part many times since then. Tommy Körberg has also represented Sweden twice in the Eurovision Song Contest. He competed in 1969 and again in 1988.

Tommy Körberg's Music Career

Tommy Körberg started his music journey in 1965. He was a singer in a Swedish pop group called Tom & Mick & Maniacs. This group changed its name a few times.

In 1967, they released a song called "Somebody's Taken Maria Away." This song became very popular. It was number one on the Tio i Topp music chart for six weeks in a row. The group also had two other hit songs on the chart. "Please, Please, Please" reached number five, and "I (Who Have Nothing)" reached number eight.

After the group broke up in 1968, Tommy Körberg released his first solo album. It was called Nature Boy.

Eurovision Song Contest Appearances

Tommy Körberg has sung for Sweden in the Eurovision Song Contest twice. In 1969, he performed the song "Judy, min vän" and finished in ninth place. Later, in 1988, he sang "Stad i ljus" and placed twelfth.

Tommy Körberg's Acting Roles

Besides singing, Tommy Körberg is also a talented actor. He has played lead roles in many Swedish musical productions.

Musicals and Films

He has starred in famous musicals like The Sound of Music. He also played Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. In 1984, he was a supporting actor in the Swedish fantasy film Ronia, the Robber's Daughter. This movie was based on a popular book by Astrid Lindgren.

Tommy Körberg also provided the voice for the Beast in the Swedish version of the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. He sang the Swedish version of the title song for the movie's soundtrack.

Returning to Chess

In the 1990s and 2000s, he often returned to play Anatoly in Chess. This included a special concert for the musical's tenth anniversary in 1994. He also performed in the 2002 production in Stockholm.

Other Collaborations and Shows

For many years, Tommy Körberg worked with Monica and Carl-Axel Dominique. They were part of an experimental music group called Solar Plexus. He has also worked a lot with Stefan Nilsson, performing songs by artists like Jacques Brel.

Tommy Körberg often performs with Benny Andersson's band, Benny Anderssons Orkester (BAO). He sings mostly dance music and songs written by Benny Andersson. In 2008, he starred in the musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels in Stockholm. In 2009, he played Professor Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady, acting alongside Helen Sjöholm.

In 2010, Tommy Körberg and his friend Claes Malmberg performed a show called The Big Bang Show in Gothenburg. In 2011, he was a judge on a Swedish TV singing competition called True Talent. In 2013, he competed in Melodifestivalen 2013 with his group Ravaillacz. They sang "En Riktig Jävla Schlager" and finished tenth in the final.

In 1995, he was one of seventeen actors who had played Jean Valjean in Les Misérables. They were all invited to perform together at the 10th Anniversary Concert in London.

In 2017, he was a guest singer on the album "Worlds Collide" by the Swedish band Dead By April. He sang on their last song, "For Every Step."

Tommy Körberg is set to return to Les Misérables in early 2025. He will play The Bishop of Digne in the Arena Spectacular World Tour.

Awards and Recognition

Tommy Körberg has received several awards for his work.

In 1969, he won a Swedish Recording Industry Award called a Grammis. He won in the category for Best Debut Performance.

He was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award in 1986. This was for his excellent performance in the first production of Chess.

For his role in the 2002 Swedish production of Chess, he won a Guldmasken. This is a national Swedish theater award for Best Actor in a Musical.

Tommy Körberg's Family Life

Tommy Körberg was born in Norsjö, Sweden. He has a son named Anton Körberg, who is also an actor and musician. Anton's mother is actress Anki Lidén. In July 2007, Tommy Körberg married Anne-Charlotte Nilsson.

Selected Music Albums

Here are some of the albums Tommy Körberg has released:

Swedish Albums

• 1969 – Judy min vän
• 1970 – Tommy
• 1971 – Tommy Körberg
• 1972 – Solar Plexus (with Solar Plexus group)
• 1973 – Solar Plexus 2 (with Solar Plexus group)
• 1973 – Tommy Körberg sjunger Birger Sjöberg
• 1974 – Solar Plexus: Det är inte båten som gungar, det är havet som rör sig
• 1975 – Solar Plexus: Hellre gycklare än hycklare
• 1976 – Den vackraste visan
• 1979 – Blixtlås (with Stefan Nilsson)
• 1982 – Tommy Körberg och Stefan Nilsson tolkar Jaques Brel
• 1988 – Spotlight: Tommy Körberg
• 1988 – ...är...
• 1988 – "Stad i ljus" (single)
• 1989 – Julen är här
• 1990 – Livslevande
• 1990 – Les Miserables-musical (original Swedish cast recording)
• 1992 – Jag skulle vilja våga tro
• 1994 – Ravaillac
• 1995 – Sound of Music-musical (original Swedish cast recording)
• 1997 – Aniara
• 1998 – Från Waterloo till Duvemåla (From Waterloo to Duvemåla)- various artists
• 1999 – Sånger för ensamma älskare
• 2000 – Hits
• 2000 – Stilla natt (with Oslo Gospel Choir)
• 2003 – Gränslös – det bästa
• 2003 – Chess på svenska (Chess in Swedish)-musical (original Swedish 2002 cast recording)
• 2006 – BAO på turné (BAO on tour) (with Benny Anderssons Orkester)
• 2007 – BAO 3 (with Benny Anderssons Orkester)
• 2007 – Rakt upp och ner (CD+DVD)
• 2012 – Sjung tills du stupar

English Albums

• 1968 – Nature Boy
• 1969 – Tommy Körberg Spotlight
• 1968 – Don't Get Around Much Any More
• 1976 – Where Do We Begin (with Made in Sweden band)
• 1984 – Chess
• 1984 – Walk Between The Raindrops (with Tolvan Big Band)
• 1993 – Live in London
• 1994 – Chess in Concert
• 1996 – Evergreens
• 2009 – Story of a Heart (with The Benny Andersson Band)
• 2010 – Songs for Drinkers and Other Thinkers
• 2018 – For Every Step (with Dead by April)

See also

In Spanish: Tommy Körberg para niños