Biography
Jahn Teigen (born Jan Teigen, September 27, 1949 in Tønsberg) was a Norwegian singer, songwriter and entertainer. Throughout his career in Norwegian music and entertainment since the 1970s, Teigen has established himself as a prominent, colorful and popular artist and national celebrity in Norway. He has released over 40 albums, more than 60 singles and played in bands such as Popol Vuh, Lions of Judea and Prima Vera. Teigen was also strongly linked to the Melodi Grand Prix, the national selection for the Eurovision Song Contest, and has competed in 14 finals – more than anyone else. He has represented Norway in the Eurovision Song Contest three times and received tremendous attention in 1978 when he got zero points with “Mil etter mil”. Among other well-known Jahn Teigen songs are “Optimist”, “Det vackreste som fins”, “Do Re Mi” and “Min første kjærlighet”.
Teigen has won numerous awards for his work in the music and entertainment industry, and he received the Honorary Award of the Spellemannsprisen in 1983 and 2009. In 2010, Jahn Teigen was named 1st Class Knight in the Order of St. Olav, and in 2012 he was incorporated in the Rockheim Hall of Fame. He has also later been acclaimed with his own space and a sculpture of himself at home in Tønsberg, and with the TVNorge series “En hyllest til Jahn Teigen”, where famous artists sang their versions of Teigen’s songs.
Teigen was married to singer Anita Skorgan from 1984 to 1987, and together they have daughter: Sara Skorgan Teigen. Since 2006, Jahn Teigen has lived in Skåne, but he regularly appeared in the spotlight until he passed away in 2020.