Olavi Virta

After water excercise in Varala we had a short walk in Pispala area. In Pispankatu street there is a mural of Olavi Virta, who propably has been the most popular Finnish singer ever. 

Olavi Virta (1915 - 1972) was a Finnish singer, acclaimed during his time as the King of Finnish tango Between 1939 and 1966 he recorded almost 600 songs, many of which are classics of Finnish popular music, and appeared in many films and theatrical productions.

Around 1959 Virta's life began to go into a bit of a sour direction. His wife Irene, whom he had three children with, left him and he  began having health issues from an ever augmenting problem with alcoholism, diabetes, and a stroke.

Olavi Virta lived in Tampere since 1964 and moved to Pispala in 1967. He died  14 July 1972. 


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