Renowned Swedish musician and composer Georg "Jojje" Wadenius has passed away at the age of 80, leaving behind a remarkable legacy in Swedish and international music.
Born in 1945 on Kungsholmen in Stockholm, Wadenius became one of the pioneers of Sweden’s modern music scene. Fellow guitarist Janne Schaffer described him as “one of the founders of the Swedish music miracle” in an interview with SVT.
Wadenius gained early recognition with the band Made in Sweden, before achieving international success in 1972 as a member of the American jazz-rock group Blood, Sweat & Tears. Throughout his career, he worked as a guitarist and studio musician with global artists including Luther Vandross, Steely Dan, and Aretha Franklin. He also performed for several years as a guitarist for the band on the American television show Saturday Night Live.
In Sweden, Wadenius was widely loved for composing popular children’s songs and theme music for television series such as Kalles Klätterträd and Farbrorn som inte vill va’ stor.
As recently as April this year, he performed concerts together with singer Helen Sjöholm and pianist Martin Östergren. His sudden passing has deeply saddened family, friends, and fans. He is survived by his two daughters, who shared the news in an emotional Facebook statement.
Music journalist Per Sinding-Larsen described Wadenius as a rare and versatile artist, while singer-songwriter Lisa Ekdahl, for whom he once served as a producer and mentor, called him one of Sweden’s greatest musicians.
Georg “Jojje” Wadenius will be remembered as an extraordinary guitarist, composer, and musical pioneer whose influence crossed genres and generations.