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Easy West
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Easy West
Biografi
Easy West is a band from Kronoby, Karleby, Kaustby and Pedersöre on the Finnish west coast. In spite of the fact that the band is relatively young the six band members are by no means newcomers in the music field. Between them they share two centuries - give or take a year or two - of stage experiance. In the past the band members have been envolved in a variety of different styles of music - from punk rock to classical. Now at a mature age when there is no stress, no rush to go anywhere and no big need to show off, the laid back music of Easy West has become the common denominator and the music has evolved into something that the band describes as “campfire country” or “cowboy schlagers” - story telling songs with a relaxed feel where the lyrics are high-lighted.
Bengt Huhta
lead vocal
Born 1949 in Kokkola, Bengt started his professional musical career at age three. Dressed in a sailors suit he was travelling with his mother on a passenger train when he discovered that singing for the ladies earned him enough money to buy candy. In the mid 60´s Bengt was singing R&B, rock ´n roll and dance music in different bands until in 1968, under the stage name Kristian he managed to win “Syksyn Sävel” - a music competition on Finnish TV - with the song “Näin on”. A few hectic years with gigs all over Finland as well as some tours to Sweden was following this victory until Bengt moved abroad in 1975. After 10 years in Sweden he returned to Finland in 1985 and since 1990 Bengt is back in his native Kokkola region where he is the principal at Öja School.
Kenth Granbacka
piano, keyboard and harmony vocal
Born 1954 in Kronoby, Kenth started his musical career in the late 1960´s and early 1970´s as vocalist and guitar player in the dance bands Laramie and Sound. After his military service Kenth moved to Sweden in 1976 where he became a member of the soul and funk band Rococo. Kenth has also toured with a rock´n roll act called Rhodes Rockers. After returning to Finland in 1985 Kenth worked as a music teacher in Jakobstad and Kronoby for twenty years. Today Kenth also conducts choirs and orchestras, performs as a solo act and leads sing alongs while piano tuning is his main occupation.
Pekka Viitala
guitars, slide guitar, lap steel, mandolin, banjo and harmony vocal
Born 1968 in Kaustinen, Pekka started taking piano lessons at age 9 but soon switched to classical guitar and electric guitar when he formed a band with a couple of his friends at age 13. Musical influences back then were The Shadows and Hurriganes while the guitar amps were moved with a milk cart. In the 80´s and 90´s Pekka played in a dance band as well as in Pauanne Big Band. In the new millennium Pekka has been touring frequently. His musical influences today are in different styles of american roots music and names like Hank Marvin, Ry Cooder, Albert Järvinen and J. Ala-Kuha are his role models. Being a farmer by trade and the proud owner of a newly installed milking robot at his farm Pekka´s motto has become: “Don´t play like a robot”!
Jan Granlund
acoustic guitar and harmony vocal
Born 1954 in Karleby, Janne grew up in a family where gospel music played an important role. As a kid he used to listen in on the swinging music of Elvis and the likes of him on the Swedish national radio. When Janne started school he begun taking violin lessons and four years later he started playing the mandolin and the piano. At age thirteen Janne got his first guitar and started playing pop music at high school dances and different parties. As an adult Janne has played in several dance bands and he enjoys many different styles of music even though country rock appears to be closest to his heart. Janne is self employed and works as a music therapist at local day care centers and schools.
Tage Borgmästars
drums, percussion and keyboard
Born 1963 in Esse, Tage started his musical career already in the early 70´s as he was playing upright bass in a folk music band and drums in a brass band. As a teenager Tage developed a great interest for punk rock and rock music and played drums in different bands. 1985 Tage put the drums aside and started doing studio work and song writing instead. As a song writer Tage has had some success in the trials of Eurovision Song Contest both in Finland and Latvia. Today Tage is still producing music in his studio and the drum sticks have again been brought back to use as he started playing drums in Easy West.
Börje Nylund
bass guitar, upright bass and harmonica
Born 1957 in Kronoby, Börje was far more interested in sports than music during his teens. But in the mid 1970´s a big change took place as he discovered country music. In 1977 Börje founded the band Country Life with his brother, two cousins and an “outsider”. Drums and four guitars wasn´t ideal for any band so the worst guitar player was convinced to try the bass guitar instead and Börje has been playing bass ever since. Already in those early days Börje showed a great interest in recording and mixing sounds and this has later become both an occupation and a way of life. In 1992 he started Northern Stars - a small firm providing most services needed for the local music scene.