Maya WiRblad
She was discovered early as her voice didn't leave anyone untouched. She has been compared with some of the most famous stars, but you will find out, she's got her own quality of voice, original, not a copy!
The memory album:
Riverside records RRCD 179
Border Music Scandinavia
This album shows her musical eclecticism from songs by George Gershwin and John Lennon to radio music in Swedish and progressive-surreal, The Story. Her interpretation of Killing Me Softly, recorded in the late 90’s, was never released but saved for the future on this memory album.
Here you will find never previously published recordings with Maya as a solo singer, to honour her memory and hopefully make new listeners discover her very special voice, as compared with world famous stars like
Barbra Streisand, Joan Baez and Kate Bush.
Maya pictured in London together with
record producer Paul Jenkins.
As a professional she started in the group Bäckmora Show/Midnight Singers in 1969. During that time she was ‘discovered’ by Hansi Schwarz and pre ABBA Björn Ulvaeus of the Hootenanny Singers but, she didn’t dare take their offer of launching a solo career.
She was one of the founders of Stämbandet. The group developed it's own style, and in 1976 they signed, probably as the very first Swedish band, a direct agreement with an English recording company. Then they changed their name into Stardust.
She was born 5 May 1946 in Kalix, Sweden, as May-Britt Johansson, and was known as Britt Johansson at the old records. She got Finnish blod from her mother.
After an aggressive cancer she left this world 17 February 2017 in Uppsala, Sweden.
R.I.P.
