Ossi Runne
Yrjö Osvald "Ossi" Runne (till 1936 Rundberg, born 23 April 1927 in Viipuri, Finland, now Vyborg, Russia) is a Finnish trumpeter, orchestra leader, composer, and record producer.[1]
In the early part of his career, Runne was known as a trumpeter and an orchestra leader.[2] Upon his return to Finland from the post of conductor for the China Variety Orchestra in Stockholm in 1957, he joined the Musiikki-Fazer company as a studio manager.[2] In 1965 he moved to Yleisradio and became head conductor of the national radio orchestra; later he led the TV 1 orchestra as well.[2] He retired from both positions in 1992.[3]
He is perhaps most recognized for conducting Finland's entries at the Eurovision Song Contest. He first conducted the entry "Playboy" (which he also composed)[2] at Luxembourg in 1966. Runne would go on to conduct 22 Finnish entries, ending in 1989.[3] In addition, he was also the Yleisradio Eurovision commentator in 1981 and 1990.[2]
He wrote an autobiography, Trumpetilla ja tahtipuikolla (“With the trumpet and the baton”) in 2003.[2]
List of bands affiliated with Runne[2]
- Ossi Runne Quintet (director, trumpeter 1944–1945)
- Ossi Aalto Orchestra (trumpeter 1945–1948)
- Toivo Kärki (trumpeter 1948–1949)
- Olle Lindström Orchestra (trumpeter 1950–1951)
- Erkki Aho Orchestra (trumpeter 1951–1953)
- Ossi Runne Orchestra (band leader, trumpeter 1954–1955)
- Al Stefano Orchestra (trumpeter 1955–1956)
- China Variety Orchestra (conductor 1956–1957)
- Yleisradio Orchestra (conductor 1965–1992)
- Karelia Wind Band (band director 1986–2003)
References
- Runne, Ossi in Uppslagsverket Finland.
- Ossi Runne profile at Pomus (in Finnish).
- Finnish Music Makers Lobby profile of Ossi Runne (in Finnish).