The beloved singer Vilhjálmur Vilhjálmsson, born on April 11, 1945, would have turned 80 in April of this year. His smooth tenor voice and unique singing style made him a household name, and even younger generations, born long after his untimely passing, continue to adore his timeless hits. Songs like Lítill drengur, Bíddu pabbi, Þú átt mig ein, and Söknuður remain etched in the memories of many, even nearly 50 years after their release.
In honor of his birthday, a special anniversary concert will be held in Hof on Saturday, April 19. Friðrik Ómar will perform Vilhjálmur’s songs with a full orchestra conducted by Karl O. Olgeirsson. Friðrik's bright and beautiful voice is often compared to that of Vilhjálmur, making the concert even more meaningful.
Pre-sale for tickets will begin on December 10 at 10:00 AM on Friðrik Ómar's platforms:
General ticket sale starts on December 12 at 10:00 AM on mak.is.
Vilhjálmur began his music career in 1961 with the band Busaband, when he was a student at Menntaskólinn á Akureyri. At that time, he did not believe much in his musical abilities, and he had not considered a career in music. However, he came from a musical family. His father, Vilhjálmur Hinrik Ívarsson, was a renowned accordionist and singer, and his older sister, Elly Vilhjálms, was a famous singer, known internationally.
Vilhjálmur continued his journey in music with the band of Ingimar Eydal in 1965, just after completing his high school education. He recorded two albums with the band and quickly became a national favorite with hits like Litla sæta ljúfan góða and Vor í Vaglaskógi.
In the following years, Vilhjálmur moved to Reykjavik to study dentistry but continued singing with Magnús Ingimarsson’s band at the Röðli restaurant. After two years of dental studies, he left it behind to pursue music full-time.
Vilhjálmur recorded four albums with his sister Elly, with their first album, Systkinin Vilhjálmur og Elly syngja saman, released in 1969. All of these albums were very popular, and their Christmas album remains a classic to this day.
In 1970, Vilhjálmur moved to Luxembourg after completing flight training but continued to record music while visiting Iceland. He released his debut solo album in 1972, which was a huge success, featuring songs like Bíddu pabbi and Ó mín kæra vina. In 1976, his album Með sínu nefi was released, which included songs composed to the poetry of Kristján frá Djúpalæk. The following year, his album Hana-nú came out with hits like Söknuður and Þú átt mig ein.
Sadly, Vilhjálmur's career was cut short, as he tragically passed away in a car accident in Luxembourg in 1978, at the young age of 32. He left behind three children and a lasting legacy in Icelandic music.