Stephen Ackles, Death | Stephen Ackles says: – He didn’t always get the credit he deserved

On September 28, the sad news came of the death of artist Stephen Ackles.

Ackles was just 57 years old and had given a concert in Rjukan shortly before he was found dead at his home in Langos. The cause of death was a severe heart attack, as his brother Eric Ackles confirmed earlier The room.

He will be buried on Thursday at 1 pm from Brevik Church in Porsgrunn.

Set a world record

Ackles grew up with a Norwegian mother and American father in Breivik, and was clearly inspired by the music from his father’s home country.

Already in his teens, Ackles had made his mark on the Norwegian music scene, and at the age of twenty-two he released his first album, “Stephen Ackles and the Memphis News”. The album was well received and, among other things, was nominated for the Spellemannprisen.

Read also: Stephen Ackles was buried at his home

In 1990, he was voted Norwegian Country Artist of the Year, and in the following years there were several nominations for Spelman.

Among other things, Ackles is known for interpreting the catalog of American rock music from the 1950s and 1960s, and has also distinguished himself in country, gospel and blues music. During his career, he released 15 albums, across several genres and expressions.

In addition, he played with many world stars, including Johnny Cash, Elton John (76) and Tom Jones (83).

In 1992, 1996 and 1999, the 57-year-old raced in the Melody Grand Prix.

Ackles can also point to a world record during his career, when in 2003 he sang Elvis songs for 30 hours, twelve minutes and one second. However, the record was later broken.

– Damn so sad

In 1989, Ackles received an honorary Wrightegården Award for “Outstanding Musical Contribution” with The Memphis News.

In 2002 he was awarded the Golden Pin and Honorary Membership of the Dissimilis Cultural Organization. Even after his death, Ackles was honored by many people, including in a column in Daily newspaper.

The newspaper’s reviewer, Geir Rakvaag, wrote, among other things, that Ackles managed to leave a significant mark on Norwegian music, that he had a voice in a special class and that he might not always get the attention and appreciation he deserved.

Thomas Seltzer (54) also explained that Ackles was an artist in a special category.

“Damn so sad,” he wrote in another text message Daily newspaper When I learned of the death.

Seltzer added: “All these years I have believed that Steven is the best singer in Norway, no one is above him and no one is next to him,” pointing out that the passing of Steven Ackles is a great loss for Norwegian music.

Politically involved

By the way, Stephen Ackles wasn’t just into music all the time. In 1999, he ran for the municipal elections for the Progress Party in Bumble – while simultaneously giving a clear message about his opinion of two of his party colleagues’ views on immigration.

According to one Dagbladet article from 1999 He asked Ackles to remove Öystein Hedström (77) and Vidar Klebe (60) from the party, because he believed the pair were spreading racist attitudes.

In 2009, it was Sylvie Listog (45 years old) who had to endure criticism from the Norwegian-American artist.

At the time, Listog stated that homosexuals were damaging their reputations by “dancing half-naked in the streets of the capital during the Queive dager festival”, to which Ackles responded.

– That she incites the gay issue in this way is completely hopeless. The artist added that she should learn from FpU, who are much more liberal when it comes to alternative lifestyles Daily newspaper then.

Despite some disagreements, Ackles was loyal to the party, and could often be seen on stage during the FRP’s national meetings.

-There’s only one Steven

As we mentioned, many people expressed their deep sadness following Ackle’s sudden death.

Elvis Kiel impersonator Elvis Bjornstad, 55, has performed with Ackles several times, and remembers his rich voice.

– Bjornstad said Stephen Ackles was a great interpreter of Elvis and had a wonderfully large, full singing voice. VG When the death of the artist became known only three weeks ago.

Artist Ron Rodberg (62 years old) said the following Look and listen:

– It was one of the saddest things. I haven’t had much contact with him in recent years, but I’ve known him for many years. We did a lot of work together, and I especially remember the first time I met him when we played together on an outdoor stage in ’88 or ’89. No, it’s just sad,’ Rudberg said.

Vocalist Pal Flaata (55) collaborated with the late Ackles for a number of years, and the two have also released albums together.

“There is only one Steven,” he wrote in another text message NRC.