Toralf Louis Tollefsen (August 26, 1914 – November 27, 1994) was a Norwegian concert accordionist from

Fredrikstad Fredrikstad (; previously ''Frederiksstad''; literally "Fredrik's Town") is a List of cities in Norway, city and Municipalities of Norway, municipality in Østfold Counties of Norway, county, Norway. The administrative centre of the municipal ...

. Tollefsen was born in

Glemmen Glemmen is a parish and former municipality with the city of Fredrikstad, Østfold county, Norway. History The parish of ''Glemminge'' was established as a municipality 1 January 1838 (see formannskapsdistrikt). A part of Glemmen with 2,013 inhab ...

and studied accordion with Ottar E. Akre. He built an international career for himself, performing in Europe, the United States, Australia, and South Africa. In 1947 he performed as a soloist with a symphony orchestra in the

Royal Albert Hall The Royal Albert Hall is a concert hall on the northern edge of South Kensington, London, England. It has a seating capacity of 5,272. Since the hall's opening by Queen Victoria in 1871, the world's leading artists from many performance genres ...

. He received the jury's honorary award in the 1977

Spellemannprisen The Spellemannprisen (also referred to as the Norwegian Grammy Awards) is a Norwegian music award ceremony presented by International Federation of the Phonographic Industry#Local associations, IFPI Norge and :no:FONO, FONO. It was first awarded i ...

Awards, a prestigious Norwegian music award similar to the American

Grammy Award The Grammy Awards, stylized as GRAMMY, and often referred to as The Grammys, are awards presented by The Recording Academy of the United States to recognize outstanding achievements in music. They are regarded by many as the most prestigious ...

. Tollefsen died in Oslo.

Discography

* ''Verdensartisten Toralf Tollefsen'' (The World-Renowned Artist Toralf Tollefsen). Sjøholt: Norild Records, 1994. Recordings from 1934 to 1960 issued for Tollefsen's 80th birthday, August 26, 1994

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tollefsen, Toralf Norwegian accordionists 1914 births 1994 deaths 20th-century Norwegian male musicians Spellemannprisen winners Musicians from Fredrikstad