#OBITUARY: Bo Halldórsson has died aged 74

Icelandic singer Björgvin ‘Bo’ Halldórsson, known in Eurovision circles for his performance in the 1995 Eurovision Song Contest, has died after a short illness, shortly before his 75th birthday.

A well-known star on the Icelandic music scene for many years, he first achieved stardom in 1969 when that year he won the Popstar of the Year award. His first band was Bendix, but among his others were Flowers, Ævintýri, Brimkló and the HLH Group.

His association with Eurovision went back to 1988. He first tried to represent his country that year, performing the song Í Tangó in a duet with Edda Borg Ólafsdóttir. This is that song:

He tried again in 1989, 1990, 1992 through Iceland’s national show Söngvakeppni Sjónvarpsins. It was only when broadcaster RÚV went for an internal selection in 1995 that he got the golden ticket to Dublin. Here’s that performance of Núna in the Point Theatre:

This was his last involvement with the contest, but he must have been a very proud dad when his daughter Svala got to represent her country at the contest in 2017.

Such was his standing, he was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Order of the Icelandic Falcon in 2011, for services to the entertainment industry.

Eurovision Ireland’s thought are with Bo’s family and friends at this sad time.

Author: John Stanton

Source: RÚV Iceland, Eurovision Ireland