KK (musician) explained

KK
Background:solo_singer
Birth Name:Kristján Kristjánsson
Birth Date:1956 3, df=yes
Birth Place:Minnesota, United States
Instrument:Vocals, guitar
Genre:Blues, folk
Occupation:Musician, songwriter
Years Active:1985 present
Associated Acts:KK Band, KK og Ellen, KK og Magnús Eiríksson

Kristján Kristjánsson also known as KK (in Icelandic kʰauː kʰauː/) is an Icelandic blues and folk musician.

Early life and career

KK was born on 26 March 1956, in Minnesota, United States, to Icelandic parents but moved to Iceland with his family around the age of 10.[1] He attended music school in Malmö, Sweden for four years and then played his way across Europe from 1985 until 1990, when he returned to Iceland. He has been nominated for the Gríma Prize twice and has been awarded the Icelandic Music Prize twice.[2]

In 2007 he toured to Shanghai with Magnús Eiríksson ("Maggi") and Óttar Felix Hauksson in advance of the release of their next recording there and in Iceland.[3] In 2010 he played with his band at the World Expo in Shanghai, representing Iceland.

KK appeared as supporting character "Gunnar", an Icelandic musician that is the father of Tuppence Middleton's character, Riley Blue/Gunnarsdóttir, on the Netflix series Sense8.[4]

Personal life

The singer is KK's sister. He composed "I think of angels" and he and Ellen perform it in memory of their older sister, Inger, who died in a car crash in 1992. A video of them performing the song produced by the Icelandic Red Cross is used for Red Cross fundraising.[5]

Traditionally, KK and Ellen perform Christmas music every year in Reykjavík.[6]

Discography

Singles

Solo
as KK & Magnús Eiríksson

Albums

Solo

KK Band

KK and Magnus

(at times, credited as KK og Magnus Eiríksson)

KK and Ellen

Sources

Notes and References

  1. News: KK - ljúfi snillingurinn . 21 February 2022 . . 26 March 2016 . Icelandic.
  2. http://tmm.forlagid.is/?cat=3 "KK á Gljúfrasteini"
  3. Jóhann Bjarna Kolbeinsson, KK og Maggi til Kína: Kristján Kristjánsson og Magnús Eiríksson gefa út plötu á framandi slóðum", Morgunblaðið 16 February 2007
  4. Web site: Vísir - Mágarnir KK og Eyþór með hlutverk í Sense8-þáttunum. visir.is. July 13, 2015. Icelandic.
  5. http://www.redcross.int/EN/mag/magazine2002_4/book.html Resources
  6. http://www.visitreykjavik.is/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-266/561_read-1076/date-1537/ KK and Ellen