Jyrki Hämäläinen
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Jyrki Hämäläinen (July 27, 1942 Tampere, Finland - March 18, 2008) was a Finnish magazine editor who also authored several biographies of prominent figures in Finnish pop culture. Hämäläinen was the former editor of Suosikki, a magazine which focuses on the country's pop music scene.[1] Hämäläinen also worked as an MC, concert promoter, columnist and producer.[1]
Jyrki Hämäläinen was the editor of Suosikki, a teen magazine, from 1968 until his retirement from the publication in 2002.[1] Hämäläinen was well known for interviewing high profile celebrities including The Rolling Stones, Muhammad Ali and Elvis Presley.[1] Hämäläinen, who often had his photograph taken with the celebrity whom he was interviewing, was nicknamed the "king of the backstage passes."[1]
Hämäläinen also authored several biographies of leading people within Finnish popular culture.[1] The subjects of his writings included Olavi Virta (born 1915 - died 1972), a Finnish tango singer; Urpo Lahtinen (born 1931 - died 1994), a media mogul and the founder of the gossip magazine, Hymy; and Finnish singer Ilkka “Danny” Lipsanen.[1]
Jyrki Hämäläinen died suddenly at the age of 65 at his home in Espoo, Finland, on March 18, 2008.[1] Hämäläinen had complained of stress and had been hospitalized due to illness for a short time before he died.[1]
