Video: Edwin Erickson & Tight Squeeze – Fiolen Min

Edwin Erikson has just published (February 3, 2023) a unique biography of his beloved accordion teacher. The book, “Olaf & Me, Remembering Mentor and Friend, Olaf Sween”, traces the musical development of Edwin through the influence of his teacher, Olaf Sween. I highly recommend that you read this book which not only covers the life and musical career of Olaf, but also serves to educate all about Scandinavian music and the life of Edwin Erickson.

Many European artists and musicians dream of coming to North America to pursue professional careers in the “land of plenty.” Excerpts from Buck Mountain Press: Not many succeed, but Olaf Sveen was one who did. He not only established himself as a successful recording artist, producing more than thirty albums, selling well over 250,000 copies, but—through his compositions and records—became an integral figure in the creation of a unique Western Canadian style of accordion music. Along the way, he became an inspiration to others, among them the author of this biography. “Olaf & Me” tells the story of an unassuming legend and one of his greatest admirers and long-time friends, Edwin Erickson.

Edwin Erickson, from Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, was raised on the family farm and in the forest in the Rocky Mountain foothills. Edwin began playing accordion formally at age 15, studying under Norwegian brothers, Georg and Olaf Sveen. He began performing in the mid 1960s, both as a soloist and in various groups, both on stage as well as on radio and television.

Edwin entered into a recording contract with Rodeo/Banff Records of Peterborough, Ontario in 1974, producing one album per year for three consecutive years. He owned and operated a number of music teaching studios through the years, along with selling and servicing accordions and other musical instruments. He co-founded KIOTAC (Kimberley International Old Time Accordion Championships) together with W.R. (Bill) Baerg in 1975, which continued for 38 years, becoming an event attracting many thousands of participants annually from around the world.

Edwin began pursuing a musical presence in Scandinavia in the late 1960s and has since performed widely across Sweden and Norway. He is a composer and arranger of accordion music and has written over sixty original compositions, mostly in the folk music genre. In recent years, Edwin concentrated primarily on accordion repair, restoration and tuning, serving a wide area of Western Canada from his location at Buck Lake, in west-central Alberta.

Many of you, whatever your career or path in life is, will certainly understand the great importance of having a mentor. Edwin successfully conveys how valuable that is and how great an influence Olaf Sween was on his entire life. You will certainly be happy that you read “Olaf & Me”.

To order the book as an ebook or softcover:
Buck Mountain Press
https://buckmountainpress.ca/books

For further information:
erickson.edwin@yahoo.ca