Reidar Larsen

Reidar Larsen was born on 12 March 1955 in Oslo and raised in Stavanger, where he still lives and performs. Over a career spanning fifty-plus years he has earned the unofficial title of Norway's "uncrowned king of blues" — a pianist and vocalist whose barrelhouse touch and gravelly delivery draw on the traditions of Champion Jack Dupree, Otis Spann and Professor Longhair.

He cut his teeth in the Stavanger bands Stavangerensemblet (1978–80) and Smalhans (1980–83) before releasing his solo debut I'm a Bluesman in 1982. Dozens of recordings followed, several going gold. In 2009 his album Kom inn te oss won the Spellemannprisen (Norwegian Grammy) for Best Blues Album, cementing his position at the top of the country's blues hierarchy.

Larsen's catalogue ranges from raw piano blues and New Orleans-flavoured shuffles to electric band sessions and stripped-back duo recordings. Notable titles include You Don't Have to Be Black to Be Blue (1987), Boogie Bastard (1992), This One's on Me (2001), Blåtoner fra bakrommet (2015) and his most recent release 10 Sanger (2024).

A survivor of serious illness — endocarditis following COVID — Larsen continues to play from his Stavanger base, bringing the same raw energy and deep feeling that has defined his music since the early 1980s.

Spellemannprisen 2009 (Best Blues Album for Kom inn te oss), Multiple gold records