About Hiski Salomaa
Lived 1891 – 1959 (aged 68). Hiski Salomaa was an American and Finnish singer, songwriter, singer-songwriter, tailor and musician.
Hiski Salomaa (born Hiskias Möttö; May 17, 1891 – July 7, 1957) was a Finnish-American singer and songwriter.
Career
Referred to as the Finnish Woody Guthrie, Salomaa's songs portrayed the immigrant experience of working-class Finns.
Between 1927 and 1931 Salomaa recorded eighteen sides for Columbia Records.
Since the 1970s, Hiski Salomaa's recordings have been reissued in both analog and digital formats. In 1992 his song "Värssyjä sieltä ja täältä" (Verses from Here and There) was published in Mel Bay’s Immigrant Songbook, an American songbook with lyrics in both Finnish and English.
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Important facts
People in Hiski Salomaa's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Hiski Salomaa's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Hiski Salomaa?
Finnish-American singer and songwriter (1891–1959)
When was Hiski Salomaa born?
Hiski Salomaa was born on 17 May 1891 in Kangasniemi.
When did Hiski Salomaa die?
Hiski Salomaa died on 7 July 1959 in New York City.
What was Hiski Salomaa's occupation?
Hiski Salomaa was a singer, songwriter, singer-songwriter, tailor and musician.
What nationality was Hiski Salomaa?
Hiski Salomaa was American and Finnish.
Sources & further reading
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Hiski Salomaa. https://biography.guide/hiski-salomaa/
MLA: "Hiski Salomaa." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/hiski-salomaa/.
Chicago: "Hiski Salomaa." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/hiski-salomaa/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-22 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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