Country star comes to Hanska

By RON LARSEN

Journal Staff Writer

HANSKA--It's a long way from Christiansand, Norway, to Hanska, but for Bjoro Haaland, a popular country western singer in Scandinavia and much of Europe, it's an easy trip to make.

During his second trip in three years, Haaland and his trio entertained Hanska residents in a 75-minute concert in the Hanska school gym Saturday night.

When asked how he happens to be playing gigs in Hanska, he smiles and points at Alicia Helling. Helling had the opportunity to hear him and was so impressed that she immediately said, "We have to have him in Hanska."

So she contacted Carrol Juuven whose Hands Across the Sea travel agency in Fargo had booked Haaland in North Dakota.

Lo and behold Haaland showed up in 1999, played for the folks and he's back again, signing the traditional country-western songs with which he has built his career.

He's had larger bands but prefers now to travel light with just a trio. Making up the trio, along with Haaland, is his son, Arne, who plays the drums and rhythm instruments, and G.T. Ugland who plays nearly everything else and sings, as well.

Haaland cut his latest CD last October. It's called "Blue Sky," and features a number of traditional CW pieces, including one in which the two surviving members of the Jordanaires sing backup.

Haaland has recorded in Nashville and has even been on the Grand Old Opry, quite an achievement for a Norwegian CW singer. "It was great in Nashville; we recorded in the same studio where Elvis Presley recorded his albums. There is so much musical history there," he said.

When he speaks of the music greats that he has seen and worked with, there's a sound of awe in his voice. A tall pleasant man, Haaland becomes somewhat reticent in talking about his accomplishments. He was voted top male singer in Europe in 1982 and in Scandinavia two years running, 1983-84.

Then, in the next breath, he tells of having a home base both at Christiansand and New York City.

"Yes, I have several different bases to work from," he said with a smile. "I'd rather drive than fly anytime; I hate to fly, but I haven't found a way yet to drive from Christiansand to America."

Perhaps the biggest surprise is that when he's not involved in touring and making albums, he operates a heavy equipment company in Norway. "We make a six-wheel-drive dump truck, called the Moxy. We sell them in Scandinavia and Europe and a few are starting to show up in the United States," he explained.

Still, music remains his first love. He's been doing it since he was 15 years old, and it's still fun so he'll continue bringing traditional country-western music to those who have been turned off by the trend to country pop--anywhere, any time.