Biography
Though broader fame never reached him, Kenny Håkansson earned regard among fellow players as one of Sweden’s strongest rock guitarists. During the 1970s he supplied guitar for Kebnekajse, widely viewed as the central group behind the rise of Swedish folk-rock, and in the early 1980s he performed with the rock-reggae act Dag Vag. The handful of solo records he issued never drew the notice given to his band projects and stayed largely within the stylistic terrain Kebnekajse had explored. He also worked steadily as a session musician, supporting such established names as Pugh Rogefeldt, Bo Hansson, Cornelis Vreeswijk, and Lisa Ekdal.
Håkansson entered the world in Stockholm in 1945. While still at grammar school he played in a neighborhood brass band. The 1960s found him taking up the guitar; after several short-lived groups he appeared on a pair of singles with the blues outfit T-Bones. In 1967 that ensemble became Baby Grandmothers and absorbed the psychedelic currents of the time. After encountering bandleader Mecki Bodemark in 1968, Håkansson was asked to join Mecki Mark Men. The group produced two albums and, in 1970, embarked on a U.S. tour alongside Sly & the Family Stone. The venture collapsed into disorder, and once home Mecki Mark Men disbanded, with the majority of its members—including Håkansson—forming Kebnekajse.
At first the new band played instrumental rock close to the sound of its predecessor, yet by the second album pronounced folk influences had surfaced. Between 1970 and 1977 Kebnekajse played a major role in shaping Swedish folk-rock before moving toward fusion on its final releases. Håkansson was regarded as the group’s guiding creative presence. When he exited a year before its dissolution he issued his solo debut, Spelar Springlekar Och Gånglåtar, returning to the folk sources that had brought Kebnekajse prominence.
In 1979 Håkansson entered Dag Vag, adopting the stage name Beno Zeno and remaining until 1982, the year he released his second solo album, Benos Ben. He continued to appear with Dag Vag on scattered occasions throughout the 1980s while devoting primary attention to the lesser-known Bills Boogie Band, led by Bill Öhrström and featuring Bosse Skoglund, Hasse Larsson, and Jukka Tolonen. The 1990s found him balancing session duties with occasional dates for the reunited Dag Vag; in 1994 he joined the backing band of singer/songwriter Lisa Ekdahl shortly before her breakthrough. He remained with her for four years and also put out the solo album 2117 M.Ö.H. in 1995. Once more he drew on traditional Swedish folk music, though this time the compositions were his own. The album’s title alludes to the elevation of Kebnekajse, Sweden’s highest mountain. In 2001 Håkansson released his fourth solo album, Hjärtats Gåtbok. Reviews were mixed, yet the record attracted greater notice than his 1990s effort and stood apart for placing emphasis on vocals rather than guitar.
Håkansson entered the world in Stockholm in 1945. While still at grammar school he played in a neighborhood brass band. The 1960s found him taking up the guitar; after several short-lived groups he appeared on a pair of singles with the blues outfit T-Bones. In 1967 that ensemble became Baby Grandmothers and absorbed the psychedelic currents of the time. After encountering bandleader Mecki Bodemark in 1968, Håkansson was asked to join Mecki Mark Men. The group produced two albums and, in 1970, embarked on a U.S. tour alongside Sly & the Family Stone. The venture collapsed into disorder, and once home Mecki Mark Men disbanded, with the majority of its members—including Håkansson—forming Kebnekajse.
At first the new band played instrumental rock close to the sound of its predecessor, yet by the second album pronounced folk influences had surfaced. Between 1970 and 1977 Kebnekajse played a major role in shaping Swedish folk-rock before moving toward fusion on its final releases. Håkansson was regarded as the group’s guiding creative presence. When he exited a year before its dissolution he issued his solo debut, Spelar Springlekar Och Gånglåtar, returning to the folk sources that had brought Kebnekajse prominence.
In 1979 Håkansson entered Dag Vag, adopting the stage name Beno Zeno and remaining until 1982, the year he released his second solo album, Benos Ben. He continued to appear with Dag Vag on scattered occasions throughout the 1980s while devoting primary attention to the lesser-known Bills Boogie Band, led by Bill Öhrström and featuring Bosse Skoglund, Hasse Larsson, and Jukka Tolonen. The 1990s found him balancing session duties with occasional dates for the reunited Dag Vag; in 1994 he joined the backing band of singer/songwriter Lisa Ekdahl shortly before her breakthrough. He remained with her for four years and also put out the solo album 2117 M.Ö.H. in 1995. Once more he drew on traditional Swedish folk music, though this time the compositions were his own. The album’s title alludes to the elevation of Kebnekajse, Sweden’s highest mountain. In 2001 Håkansson released his fourth solo album, Hjärtats Gåtbok. Reviews were mixed, yet the record attracted greater notice than his 1990s effort and stood apart for placing emphasis on vocals rather than guitar.
Albums
