Bo Hansson

Swedish keyboardist and composer Bo Hansson first surfaced during the 1960s as one half of a duo. The pair established its profile at home in Sweden before carrying that momentum onto stages across Europe, where three albums appeared. Jimi Hendrix encountered the duo and is said to have joined Hansson for several jam sessions whose tapes have stayed unreleased. Hendrix also cut one of Hansson’s pieces, “Tax-Free,” and the duo later supported the Experience on tour.

Early in the 1970s Hansson reached a wider audience with the all-instrumental concept album Lord of the Rings, drawn from J.R.R. Tolkien’s trilogy that had long ranked among college students’ favorite best-sellers. The record earned gold certifications in England and Australia. After Tony Stratton-Smith’s Charisma Records licensed it for both the U.K. and U.S. markets, an extensive television campaign helped it connect with progressive-rock listeners. Two further releases, Magician’s Hat and Attic Thoughts, followed in Europe and America alike.

Illness reportedly sidelined Hansson in his final years, and no new recordings surfaced after the 1980s. He died on April 24, 2010.