Hiski Salomaa (born Hiskias Möttö; May 17, 1891 – July 7, 1957) was a Finnish-American singer and songwriter.

Hiski Salomaa
"The Finnish Woody Guthrie"
Born
Hiskias Möttö

(1891-05-17)May 17, 1891
DiedJuly 7, 1957(1957-07-07) (aged 66)
Occupation(s)singer, songwriter, tailor, restaurateur
SpouseAini Saari

Career

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Referred to as the Finnish Woody Guthrie,[1] Salomaa's songs portrayed the immigrant experience of working-class Finns.[2]

Between 1927 and 1931 Salomaa recorded eighteen sides for Columbia Records.[3]

Since the 1970s, Hiski Salomaa's recordings have been reissued in both analog and digital formats.[4][5][6] In 1992 his song "Värssyjä sieltä ja täältä" (Verses from Here and There) was published in Mel Bay’s Immigrant Songbook, an American songbook with lyrics in both Finnish and English.[7]

References

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