Jyrki Hämäläinen (27 July 1942 – 18 March 2008) was a Finnish magazine editor who also authored several biographies of prominent figures in Finnish pop culture. Hämäläinen was the former editor of Suosikki, a magazine which focuses on the country's pop music scene.[1] Hämäläinen also worked as an MC, concert promoter, columnist and producer.[1]

Jyrki Hämäläinen
Born(1942-07-27)27 July 1942
Tampere, Finland
Died18 March 2008(2008-03-18) (aged 65)
Espoo, Finland

Jyrki Hämäläinen was the editor of Suosikki, a teen magazine, from 1968 until his retirement from the publication in 2002.[1] Hämäläinen was well known for interviewing high-profile celebrities including The Rolling Stones, Muhammad Ali and Elvis Presley.[1] Hämäläinen, who often had his photograph taken with the celebrity whom he was interviewing, was nicknamed the "king of the backstage passes."[1]

Hämäläinen also authored several biographies of leading people within Finnish popular culture.[1] The subjects of his writings included Olavi Virta (born 1915 – died 1972), a Finnish tango singer; Urpo Lahtinen (born 1931 – died 1994), a media mogul and the founder of the gossip magazine, Hymy; and Finnish singer Ilkka "Danny" Lipsanen.[1]

Jyrki Hämäläinen died suddenly at the age of 65 at his home in Espoo, Finland, on 18 March 2008.[1] Hämäläinen had complained of stress and had been hospitalized due to illness for a short time before he died.[1]

Not to be confused with the Finnish author and journalist Jyrki "Spider" Hämäläinen" [fi].

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Jyrki Hämäläinen (1942-2008) Long-serving teen magazine editor and pop-culture biographer dies at 65". Helsingin Sanomat. 19 March 2008. Archived from the original on 22 May 2011. Retrieved 27 March 2008.
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