Matti Urva One of the most prominent representatives of Finnish popular music of the 1930s. Country: Finland

1. Biography of Matti Jurva
2. Collaboration with Tatu Pekkarinen
3. Talented Entertainer
4. Film Career and "Ievan Polkka"

Biography of Matti Jurva

Matti Jurva was one of the most prominent figures in Finnish popular music in the 1930s. He was a singer, tap dancer, actor, multi-instrumentalist, and composer. Jurva achieved success both in Finland and abroad, particularly in the United States. According to Peter von Bach, there are at least 406 gramophone recordings of Matti Jurva, and it is also known that he recorded during his American tours in 1927-1928.

Collaboration with Tatu Pekkarinen

Matti Jurva collaborated extensively with Tatu Pekkarinen, with Jurva composing the music and Pekkarinen writing the lyrics. Their collaborative works were often released under the pseudonym Erkki Salama. However, it is also claimed that other authors worked under this pseudonym as well.

Talented Entertainer

As a talented comedian, Jurva inherited the legacy of Juhan Alfred Tanner and Rafu Ramstedt. He recorded and performed numerous songs that reflected the events of the time, including the Finnish "dry law" and the 1936 Berlin Olympics. During the Winter War and the Finnish occupation of Karelia, Jurva actively performed for Finnish troops. One of his well-known songs among listeners from the former USSR is "Njet, Molotoff," which satirizes the boastfulness of Soviet propaganda of that time. He also recorded the song "Mannerheimin linjalla," which depicted the events of the Winter War.

Film Career and "Ievan Polkka"

Jurva appeared in the films "Kaksi Vihtoria" (1939) and "Herra johtajan harha-askel" (1940). He is also known for being the first to perform the song "Ievan Polkka."