Tuomari Nurmio

Tuomari Nurmio is in many ways the quintessential Finnish rock musician. His work draws inspiration from both American roots music and traditional Finnish popular music. His resulting sound transcends either by juxtaposing various styles in unique yet accessible ways. You're as likely to hear klezmer and flamenco as you are Delta blues and rockabilly flavors in his music. His literary lyrics are insightful snapshots of big city bars and streets. Nurmio has recorded popular and roots music, schlager, blues, country, tangos, new wave, and combinations of the above. He released two albums in English under different band names: Meet the Meatballs as the Meatballs (1984) and Hillbilly Spacecraft as the Barnhill Boys (1994). An early single was released under the name Judge Bean, Jr., a moniker he used again in 2007. As an aside, Nurmio has a higher degree in law and theoretically could work as a judge. His stage name, "Tuomari," translates as "Judge." Born in Helsinki, Finland in 1950 as Hannu Juhani Nurmio, he began his musical career in 1977 when his first band, Dusty Ramblers, had one song featured on a joint EP. Two years later his first album, Kohdusta Hautaan (From the Cradle to the Grave, 1979), was an immediate popular and critical success. Two 7" releases from the album were simultaneously on the singles list at first and third positions. Nurmio's sophomore effort, Maailmanpyörä Palaa! (The Ferris Wheel Is on Fire!), was recorded in 1980 with a new band. The record improved on its predecessor, as did his third album, Lasten Mehuhetki (Children's Soda Party, 1981). But it is his fourth album, Punainen Planeetta (The Red Planet, 1982), that proved to be the culmination of his early efforts, and a storm warning of things to come in the following decades. It delivered...