Lars "Lasse" Anders Fredrik Mårtenson, born September 24, 1934, in Helsinki, was a Finnish singer, composer, pianist, theatre conductor, and actor. A native Swedish speaker, he recorded primarily in Finnish and rose to prominence in the 1960s as one of Finland's leading jazz and pop performers. His best-known songs include "Laiskotellen," Finland's Eurovision entry in 1964, "Marraskuu," "Ken on hän," and "Iltaisin." From the late 1960s, Mårtenson focused on composing for film and television, most notably the enduring theme for the television series Myrskyluodon Maija (Stormskärs Maja). An avid sailor, he reflected his passion for the sea in both his music and his 2011 memoir Vågspel. He passed away on May 14, 2016.
