Agnetha Fältskog
Agneta Åse Fältskog KVO1kl (born 5 April 1950), known as Agnetha Fältskog (Swedish pronunciation: [aŋˈnêːta ˈfɛ̂ltskuːɡ] ⓘ) and Anna Fältskog,[1] is a Swedish singer, songwriter and a member of the pop group ABBA. She first achieved success in Sweden with the release of her 1968 self-titled debut album. She rose to international stardom in the 1970s as a member of ABBA,[2] which is one of the best-selling music acts in history.[3] She is the youngest member of ABBA, and the only one born in the 1950s.
"Agnetha" redirects here. For other notable people who share the same name with varied spellings, see Agneta.
Agnetha Fältskog
After the unofficial break-up of ABBA in December 1982, she renewed success later in the decade as a solo artist with three albums and a leading role in a movie. She became reclusive in the 1990s, avoiding outside publicity[4] and residing[5] on the Stockholm County island of Ekerö.
Fältskog stopped recording music for 16 years until she released a new album, My Colouring Book, in 2004.[6][7] She returned in 2013 with A, her highest UK charting solo album to date.[8][9][10] ABBA has since reformed, and Fältskog has resumed her previous role with the group.[11]
Life and career[edit]
Early life[edit]
Agneta Åse Fältskog was born in Jönköping on 5 April 1950.[12][13][14] She was the first of two daughters of department store manager Knut Ingvar Fältskog (1922–1995) and his wife Birgit Margareta Johansson (1923–1994).[14][15] Ingvar showed much interest in music and show business,[16] and Birgit devoted herself to her children and household.[17] Fältskog's younger sister, Mona, was born in 1955.
Fältskog wrote her first song at the age of six, entitled "Två små troll" ("Two Small Trolls").[18] In 1958, she began taking piano lessons, and also sang in a local church choir.[14] In early 1960, Fältskog formed a musical trio, the Cambers, with her friends Lena Johansson and Elisabeth Strub. They performed locally in minor venues and soon dissolved due to a lack of engagements.[14] At age 15, Fältskog decided to leave school and pursue a career.[14]
Fältskog cites Connie Francis, Marianne Faithfull, Aretha Franklin and Lesley Gore as her strongest musical influences.[14]
