Viking Magazine - May 2016 - 46

Q&A
King of the Road
W
hen country music
became popular
in Norway, Ottar
Johansen was immediately
hooked. He grew up in northern
Norway and left home at the age
of 18 to pursue his dream of a
music career. For more than 50
years, he's led the country music
scene in Norway and racked up
an impressive resume. Johansen
has two Spellemannpriser
(Norway's Grammys) and
has opened for music legends
Waylon Jennings and Willie
Nelson. Johansen's latest album,
" Big Hand - 50 Years on the
Road, " celebrates his career.
Viking caught up with
the musician and Sons of
Norway member.
Q How were you introduced to
country music?
A I heard some country music
on Norwegian NRK in the
mid-1960s. I really liked the
simplicity of the songs, and the
lyrics were easy to understand.
In 1969, I heard Waylon
Jennings, and I was hooked.
Q How did you get the nickname
" Big Hand? "
A I was singing a few songs
at White Hart Lane in London
with an English country band.
When I left, they said, " Thanks
for singing with us, let's all give
him a Big Hand. " I told this to
46 VIKING MAY 2016 sonsofnorway.com
Norwegian country music legend Ottar " Big Hand " Johansen
celebrates a 50-year career. BY ALEX COHEN
one of my colleagues when I got
back to Oslo, and he said, " Here
ever after you shall be called 'Big
Hand.' " So I started to use this
nickname in 1981, on my LP
" Good Ol' Boys. "
Q What was the process like for
making your latest album " Big
Hand - 50 Years on the Road " ?
A First, I talked with my
co-producers about making
a compilation album. After
thinking really hard about it, I
decided that it had to be only
new songs. I mentioned, mostly
for fun, to my co-writer Bjørn
" Southern " Nilsen that I would
like to start all over again. He
went home, started writing, and
" Starting All Over Again " is the
fi rst track on the album.
Q Why did you decide to join
Sons of Norway's Music City
Vikings lodge in Nashville?
A I was in Nashville recording
the song " Take Me Back, "
which was written for full
Norwegian-blooded Americans.
One of the lodge leaders asked
me to sing that song at one of
their meetings, and I became
a member.
Q What do you like about Sons of
Norway?
A I love the work Sons of
Norway is doing to keep up the
good relations between Norway
Learn more about Ottar " Big Hand " Johansen and keep an eye
on his tour schedule at bighand.no.
and the United States. This
includes education, cultural
exchange, preserving traditions
and also what they are doing to
bring in the younger people.
Q What's next for your career?
A A few months ago, I released
my new Christmas single " Red
Mountain Christmas. " This
year, I'll be recording new songs
and touring the United States in
the fall.
Full Name:
Ottar " Big Hand "
Johansen
Hometown:
Bodø, Norway
Current City:
Oslo
New Album:
" Big Hand - 50 Years
on the Road "
Big Hand on Tour!
June 3
Svensby, Norway
Lyngen Rock & Reker
June 10
Harran, Norway
Harren Kro
June 11
Namsos, Norway
Onkel Oskar
June 18
Grimsbu, Norway
Grimsbu Ølfestival
PHOTO BY GITTE JOHANNESSEN
http://www.bighand.no http://www.sonsofnorway.com
Viking Magazine - May 2016

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