Juice Leskinen

Pauli Matti Juhani Leskinen (born February 19, 1950 in Juankoski, Finland), better known as Juice Leskinen, is one of the most prominent Finnish singer-songwriters of the late 20th century. Since the early 1970s, he's released

Pauli Matti Juhani Leskinen (born February 19, 1950 in Juankoski, Finland), better known as Juice Leskinen, is one of the most prominent Finnish singer-songwriters of the late 20th century. Since the early 1970s, he's released nearly 30 full-length albums, as well as written song lyrics for dozens of Finnish artists. Several of Leskinen's songs have reached classic status in Finnish popular music, e.g. "Viidestoista yö", "Kaksoiselämää" and "Syksyn sävel". His early records are considered staples of the so-called Manserock movement of the mid '70s. In addition to Leskinen's musical work, he has extended his focus on poetry and playwriting with nine collections of verse and seven plays published to date.

After moving to Tampere to study in 1970, Leskinen began his recording career in 1973 with the eponymous debut album of Juice Leskinen & Coitus Int. One more record, Per Vers, runoilija, was made under the same band name, but since then he's released records with several line-ups, most notably Juice Leskinen Slam and Juice Leskinen Grand Slam from the late '70s until mid '80s. Although concentrating more on poetry since the early '90s, Leskinen has still released new music every few years despite his failing health caused by years of unhealthy life habits (latest news tell that Leskinen's feet no longer carry him). After the longest hiatus of his recording career, L marked Leskinen's 50th birthday in 2000. His latest record, Senaattori ja boheemi (released in 2004), is a collaboration with Mikko Alatalo, a return to their partnership of the early '70s.