Ottar 'Big Hand' Johansen

Ottar 'Big Hand' Johansen

Genres: country, norwegian, Norge, Norway

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About Ottar 'Big Hand' Johansen

Born and raised in northern Norway, he left as an 18-year old to pursue a professional career in the capitol of Oslo. It wasn’t long until he starred in his own television series, making successful records and going on the road with one of Norway’s most popular bands at the time; "Country Snakes". With the 80´s came the Texas Outlaw movement and BIG HAND felt right at home. Adapting the more rock oriented style in the fashion of artists like Jennings and Willie Nelson, he formed "Country Jamboree" with former"rock star" Casino Steel and British/Norwegian singer Claudia Scott. They became an overnight success, toured both nationally and internationally,and recorded three albums (one of which earned them a Grammy) before they split up in 1986. BIG HAND was also at that time, and still is today, very much involved in talent scouting and producing other artists. He worked as an A&R for RCA records, before he moved on to heading his own company, Big Hand Records Today, his companies New Cut Music and Big Hand Entertainment, deals in artist management, booking, publishing as well as recording. 1988 found BIG HAND once again heading for Nashville. This time to record a solo album with one of the top producers of the day, Steve Buckingham and Steve Gibson, and some of the finest musicians Music City could produce. The result could be nothing but perfect and "Game of hearts" (CBS) won him yet another Grammy that year. Now after four more albums (one compilation was released in Sweden and Denmark only) and several more performances (a second shot at Fan Fair,Wembley arena, Gilley´s Texas to name e few). He then released the compilation album "30 years on the road/Best of Big Hand" (New Cut Records). This musical testimony, contains 21 of his favorite songs (including two brand new ones) and spawns one of Europe’s country music’s most subtle and with standing careers. The winner of two Spellemannpriser (equal to the US Grammy Awards), one with Claudia/Big Hand/Casino, the other for the solo album Game Of Hearts, Johansen has long been pivotal in the growth and popularity of Norway’s music industry, notably through and concert appearances with Big Hand Saloon and through his American tours with Joe Sun. In the process, he has shared the stage with such country music immortals as George Jones, Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson. More recently, his prominence earned him a mentorship on the popular Stjernekamp series on NRK-TV and netted him the 2014 Kulturpris from the city of Oslo

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