Radka Toneff

Ellen Radka Toneff (25 June 1952 – 21 October 1982) was a Norwegian jazz singer, daughter of the Bulgarian folk singer, pilot and radio technician Toni Toneff, she was born in Oslo and grew up in Lambertseter and Kolbotn. She is still considered one of Norway's greatest jazz singers.

Career She studied music at Oslo Musikkonservatorium (1971–75), combined with playing in the jazz rock band "Unis". She also had her own Radka Toneff Quintet (1975–80), with a changing lineup. Since 1979 she collaborated with Steve Dobrogosz. A biography of Toneff was published in 2008. Toneff was found dead in the woods of Bygdøy outside Oslo on 21 October 1982. She had committed suicide with an overdose of sleeping pills.

Honors Spellemannprisen 1977 in the class Best vocal for the album Winter Poem Buddyprisen 1982 posthumously

Discography

Solo albums 1977: Winter Poem (Zarepta Records) – with the Radka Toneff Quintet 1979: It Don't Come Easy (Zarepta Records) – with the Radka Toneff Quintet 1982: Fairytales (Odin Records) – with Steve Dobrogosz 1993: Live in Hamburg (Odin Records) – with Steve Dobrogosz, Arild Andersen, and Alex Riel (recorded in 1981)

Compilations 2003: Some Time Ago – A Collection Of Her Finest Moments (EmArcy Records) 2008: Set It Free – Et Portrett Av Radka Toneff (KRF Records) 2008: Butterfly (Curling Legs)

Collaborative works 1971: Slutt Opp, Kamerat (Plateselskapet Oktober), "Fronteatret"/«Visegruppa PS» 1971: Svartkatten (Flora / Arne Bendiksen), Nationaltheatret 1975: Lise Madsen, Moses Og De Andre (Sonet Records), with Ole Paus 1978: Leve Patagonia (Philips Records), with Ketil Bjørnstad