Irmeli Mäkelä
Irmeli Mäkelä | |
|---|---|
Mäkelä in 1962 | |
| Born | Hellä Muisto Irmeli Mäkelä 18 October 1942 Kotka, Finland |
| Died | 15 March 2026 (aged 83) Kotka, Finland |
| Occupation | Pop singer |
| Spouse | Johannes Liikanen |
Hellä Muisto Irmeli Mäkelä (18 October 1942 – 15 March 2026), known professionally as Irmeli Mäkelä, was a Finnish pop singer.
Early life and career
Mäkelä was born in Kotka on 18 October 1942. At the age of 15, she began her pop singing career as a soloist in an orchestra after she competed at a local singing competition. In her twenties, she received a recording contract from the record company Helsinki.[1]
During her singing career, in 1959, Mäkelä collaborated with composer Erik Lindström, and sang the songs "Too Little Time" and "Taken by the Stream".[2] In the same year, she sang the Finnish language cover song "Kun Ohi Käyt". In 1963, she competed for Finland at the Eurovision Song Contest, and won qualification with the song "Muistojeni laulu".[3]
Mäkelä retired her pop singing career in the late 1960s. After retiring as a pop singer, she performed as a mezzo-soprano, and opened a hair salon in Kotka.[4] In 1974, musicologist Seppo Heikinheimo of Helsingin Sanomat wrote a favorable review upon Mäkelä's Carmen title role performance.[5]
Personal life and death
Mäkelä was married to Johannes Liikanen. Their marriage lasted until Mäkelä's death in 2026.[6]
Mäkelä died in Kotka on 15 March 2026, at the age of 83.[7]
References
- ^ "Iskelmälaulaja Irmeli Mäkelä on kuollut". Tanssiin.fi (in Finnish). 17 March 2026. Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Aromaa, Jonni (17 March 2026). "Iskelmälaulaja Irmeli Mäkelä on kuollut". Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Pakkanen, Riia (17 March 2026). "Irmeli Mäkelä on kuollut". Iltalehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Minkkien, Riikka (17 March 2026). "Iskelmälaulaja Irmeli Mäkelä on kuollut". Etelä-Suomen Sanomat (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Heikinheimo, Seppo (10 February 1974). "Kotkan ooppera laatuisa Carmen". Helsingin Sanomat (in Finnish). p. 28. Retrieved 17 March 2026 – via Tili.sanoma.fi.
- ^ Minkkien, Riikka (17 March 2026). "Iskelmälaulaja Irmeli Mäkelä on kuollut". Keskisuomalainen (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 March 2026.
- ^ Aalto, Maija (17 March 2026). "Iskelmälaulaja Irmeli Mäkelä on kuollut". Aamulehti (in Finnish). Retrieved 17 March 2026.
External links
- Irmeli Mäkelä at IMDb
- Irmeli Mäkelä discography at Discogs