Sven Zetterberg ended his Christmas tour on December 16th. Two days later he died from heart failure. It was a shocking and monumental loss to the blues community in Scandinavia, Europe and around the world. Sven was the best soul and blues musician in Sweden, perhaps in the whole of Europe. He was at his artistic peak at the time of his death.

Sven began making a name for himself in the 1970s in the Swedish blues scene as a member Telge Blues Band. He went on to play with the groups Blue Fire, Blues Rockers and Four Roosters. The latter group also featured the renowned Norwegian guitar sensation Knut Reiersrud. During the second half of the 1980s to the end of the 1990s Sven’s group Chicago Express ruled the Swedish blues scene. During this period they released four successful and acclaimed albums.

He released his first solo album in 1999, Blues From Within. The record was nominated for a Swedish Grammy. The 2001 release of Let Me Get Over introduced the world to the soul singer side of Sven Zetterberg. The record received a wide recognition beyond the blues scene. This record was also nominated for a Swedish Grammy.

The breakthrough as a soul singer made it possible for Sven to engage two different backup bands. One band for the soul blues material and another trio when juke joint blues was requested. He was also often a guest on Christmas blues shows, tribute shows and rock´n´roll revivals. Irrespective of genre, a concert with Sven always guaranteed quality, full force and a soulful ‘give and take-meeting’ with his audience. He was a giant at communicating with the audience. No one ever left a Sven Zetterberg concert feeling disappointed.

He regularly released records of high quality during the 2000´s, all of them critical and public successes. He wrote a lot of new original songs with his guitar player Anders Lewén. As a result of the success of both his recordings and the live shows, his audience grew.  

Through the years he played and toured with a lot of famous American blues artists, including  Johnnie Johnson, Albert Collins, Lazy Lester, Jimmy Rogers, Louisiana Red, Eddie Kirkland, Eddie Boyd, Jimmy McCracklin, Carey Bell and Sunnyland Slim and others. He even played at several blues clubs in Chicago, mostly on the West Side.

Sven could reach heaven when he played soul and blues – with his voice, with his harmonica and his sharp, unique guitar tone.

During 45 years he crossed Sweden, from the Deep South to way up North. He played the concert halls, the festivals, the arenas, the pubs and the juke joints, always before a full house, giving one hundred percent on stage. The blues scene will never be the same. He can never be replaced. The missing is infinite.

- Bo Majling

Editor’s Note: Bo is on the board of the Swedish Blues Association and a contributor to the oldest blues magazine in the world, the Stockholm based Jefferson Blues Magazine. I’d like to thank him for his contribution here to BLUES JUNCTION.

The following is a comprehensive discography of Sven Zetterberg provided to us by Jeff Scott Fleenor. Jeff is the leading authority of the International blues scene. He has been the International Talent Coordinator for the Doheny Blues Festival were he has brought artists from around the world to that event. Jeff finally brought Sven Zetterberg to the Doheny Blues Festival stage back in 2009. 

Sven Zetterberg Discography:

Sven Z Trio “Live in Kopparberg” (2016)                                                                                 Sven Zetterberg “Something for Everybody” (2016) 
Sven Zetterberg “Mileage” (2012)
Sven Zetterberg “Grounded in Reality” (2010)
Sven Zetterberg “Hollerin’ up a Storm” (2007)
Sven Zetterberg “Southern Soul Agenda” (2006)
Sven Zetterberg “Soul of a Man: 1990-1999” (2004)
Sven Zetterberg “Moving in the Right Direction” (2004)
Sven Zetterberg “Let Me Get Over It” (2001)
Sven Zetterberg “Blues from Within” (1999)
Sven Zetterberg and the Chicago Express “Steppin’ Out – Alive!” (1996)
Sven Zetterberg and the Chicago Express “Permanently Blue” (1995)
Sven Zetterberg and the Chicago Express “Watch Your Step!” (1991)
Sven Zetterberg and the Chicago Express “The Blue Soulution” (1990)

Additional Credits:

Various Artists “Farther on up the Road: Last Buzz Record Co. 40 Years” (2016)
Various Artists “Oslo Bluesklubb 20 År” (2015)
J. Åsling Roots & Friends “The Stockholm Sessions” (2015)
Big Band Splash “The Soul Collection” (2014)
J.T. Lauritsen & Friends “Play by the Rules (2013)
Trickbag “Trickbag with Friends, Vol. 1” (2013)
Various Artists “Don’t You Know? The Last Buzz! 1978-2012” (2012)
Trickbag “Goin’ Downtown” (2011)
The Beat from Palookaville “Numero Uno!” (2011)
Billy T. Band “L.O.V.E. (Just a Silly Notion)” (2010)
Big Band Splash “Another Apple” (2010)
Various Artists “Blue Midnight: Last Buzz Record Co. 30 Years, Volume II” (2009)
Sivert Bramstedt “Blues and Joys” (2009)
Various Artists “Before I Grow Too Old: Last Buzz Record Co. 30 Years" (2008)
Various Artists “CeePeeVee Records: 10th Year Anniversary” (2007)
Wentus Blues Band “Family Meeting” (2007)
Various Artists “Soul Folks: The Sam Cooke Concerts” (2006)
Various Artists “Big City Rhythm, Vol. 2” (2006)
Jakob Norgren Big Band Splash “Wide Meadow Soul” (2005)
Various Artists “Notodden Blues Festival: The Best of People and Blues, Vol. 3” (2004)
Various Artists “Back to Their Roots” (2004)
Wentus Blues Band “Family Album” (2004)
Per & the Ouagadougou Blues Quartet "Second Jive" (2004)
Various Artists “Let’s Go Boppin’! 25 Years Anniversary of Last Buzz Records, Vol. 2” (2003)
The Young Guns Blues Band “Blue Tango” (2001)
Various Artists “Horton’s Briefcase” (2000)
Knut Reiersrud “Sub” (1999)
Various Artists “All That Blues from Sweden! Volume 2” (1998)
Knut Reiersrud “Soul of a Man” (1998)
The Instigators “Rock ‘n’ Bowl!” (1996)
Various Artists “All That Blues from Sweden! Volume One” (1993)
Chicago Blues Meeting “Snake in My Bedroom” (1984)
Various Artists “Blues Meeting in Chicago” (1983)
Four Roosters “Roosters Blues” (1982)
Blue Fire “Blue Fire” (1978)
Telge Blues “Telge Blues” (1975)