At the age of four I got my first instrument - a red accordeon.
That's how it all started. The Piano entered my life somewhat later.
I grew 173 centimeters tall and the "Witch of Jazz" haunted my soul and senses.
Became a complete Jazzomaniac...
The-big-city tempts me. Stockholm - Yes!!
A couple of great jazzing years.
I loved the neon nights with their fusion people and swingin'music.
Oscar Peterson's jazz academy in Toronto came in to my wish and schedule.
But instead I ended up in New York.
Oh my God what strange moments of life that was - those Birdland and
Manhattan months.
Time flies - back to Sweden.
Bringing along four smashing black girls.
My new band was born,
Merit Hemmingson and her Girl Stars.
Oh gee...!
New ideas. Feelings change.
That's the way life is.
Slowly I got fed up with all that jazz and I even thought that the piano felt somewhat limited and weak.
There must be an instrument more inspiring, more bombastic...
Call it "Thunder of Northen light".
Wanted to enter New paths, sit in New unknown chairs, blow New mists over old lakes and those traditional songs.
New groove into the folklore costumes.
A new band "Meritones" is formed along with my first record.
People and Life seemed to like me and my Hammond.
We performed something new.
At that time...
Quite a few albums have reached the market -
three of them even sold gold...
(Interested? - see further under "Discography")
Ola Salo and Martin Axén from The Ark are the spirits behind this compilation album "Merit - Queen of Swedish Hammond Folk Groove". They were those who also picked out all the songs from my material recorded 1971-77.
"Touch"
A more misty and
maybe mystic album...
Something New is coming!
Might not sound and taste like earlier brews I've made...
Please visit me on http://myspace.com/merithemmingson
Or listen to some of the new stuff here on my web site under "Music"
Hope you will like what you hear.
from
a Merit