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The four future ABBA members, photographed in the late fifties and early sixties.
Björn Kristian Ulvaeus, born on 25 April, 1945
Anni-frid Synni Lyngstad, born on 15 November, 1945
Göran Bror Benny Andersson, born on 16 December, 1946
Agnetha Åse Fältskog, born on 5 April 1950
1961 Björn and fellow bandmembers form the 'Westbay Singers', later named 'Hootenanny Singers', in Vastervik. Their tv-debut comes in 1964.
Young Frida
1963-1966 Frida performs with the 'Gunnar Sandevärn Trio', with Lennart Fredriksson, Ragnar
Fredriksson and Gunnar Sandevärn.
1964 Frida, Lennart Fredriksson, Ragnar
Fredriksson (bass) and Gunnar Sandevärn on stage in Eskilstuna
1964-10 Benny joins the 'Hep Stars' as a keyboardist. The first hit is 'Cadillac' in March 1965.
Bjorn formed the 'Westbay Singers' later named 'Hootenanny Singers' in 1961 in Vastervik
Björn with his Hootenanny Singers
around 1965
1966 Agnetha is performing with the 'Bernt Enghardt band'.
1966-06 07 08 Björn Ulvaeus of the
'Hootenanny Singers' and Benny of the 'Hep Stars' meet at a party and
start their musical friendship.
A get-together in the summer house of Björn's parents in 1966
1967:
1967-09-03 Frida performs 'En Ledig Dag' in Skansen Park. After winning the contest, she makes her debut on Swedish television that same evening on the 'Hylands Hörna' tv-show: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHUGxTvkKis
Frida with her band in 1967
1967-09-11 Frida's first studio recording
session: 'En Ledig Dag' in just one take, 'Du Ar Sa Underbart Rar' and 'Peter, Kom
Tillbaka'.
1967-10/11/12 Frida records 'Din'.
1967-10-16 Agnetha first recording
session: 'Jag Var Så Kär', 'Föli Med Mig', 'Utan Dej, Mitt LIv Går
Vidare' and 'Slutet Gott Allting Gott'.
1967 Photos from Agnetha taken by
Ragnar Ericsson.
1967-10/11 Björn continues his
study law and economics at the University of Lund for a short period.
1967-10/11 Björn's Hootenanny
Singers hire Benny for sessions of the song 'Blommar'. He plays the
organ.
Frida and Raknar with Lisse-Lotte and Hans
Benny with the Hep Stars in 1967
1968:
1968-01-10 Both Frida and Agnetha
appear on TV show 'Studio 8'. Frida sings 'En Ledig Dag' and Agnetha 'Jag Var Så Kär'.
1968-02 Björn and his Hootenanny
Singers are in Austria to finish recordings for their new album
'Bellman På Vårt Sätt'. Björn has a romance with Swedish girl
Marianne Åkerman.
1968 Frida records the
singles 'Simsalabim' / 'Vi Möts Igen' and 'Mycket Kär' / 'När Du
Blir Min'.
1968-03-31 Agnetha's 2nd single 'Slutet Gott Allting Gott'/ 'Utan Dej, Mitt LIv Går Vidare' is released.
1968-04 Björn records his first
solo single: 'Raring'.
Björn with Hootenanny Singers in 1968
1968-04/05 Agnetha records 'En Sommar Med Dig', written by her father and the self-penned track 'Försonade'. The single did not chart.
1968-04/05/06 Agnetha, 19 years old, lives in Stockholm with her executive producer Lars-Johan Rundqvist,
his wife and their children. Around this time, Agnetha records 'Den Jag Väntat På' and 'Allting Har
Förändrat Sej'. In May 1968, Rundqvist and Agnetha go to
West-Berlin for her first German recording sessions: 'Robinson
Crusoe', 'Sunny Boy', 'Señor Gonzales' and 'Mein Schönster Tag'.
In West-Berlin Agnetha falls in love with arranger Dieter Zimmerman. In the Spring of 1968 Agnetha records more songs in Sweden and West-Berlin: 'Jag Har Förlarat Dej', 'Tack Sverige', 'Snövit Och De Sju Dvärgarna' and 'Min Farbror Jonathan'.
1968-05-22 Frida and Lars Lönndahl
give their folkpark concert. The last concert takes place on 30 June.
1968-07/08 Agnetha returns to
Stockholm for her first folkpark tour with Bernt Enghardt. Her fourth single 'Allting Har Förändrat Sej'/'Den Jag Väntat På' is released in the summer of 1968.
Agnetha on stage in Malmö
1968-07-23 Agnetha and Dieter
Zimmermann get engaged.
1968-08-19 Agnetha records the duets
'Sjung Denna Sång' and 'Någonting Händer Med Mig' with Jörgen
Edman.
Agnetha in August 1968
1968-09 Agnetha returns to school. She takes acting lessons at the 'Calle Fygare' theatre school in Stockholm. She also continues her singing career. The song 'Borsta tandtrollen Bort' is recorded in the studio with the Arvid Sundin Quartet.
1968-09 Börn records his solo single 'Fröken Fredriksson'/'Vår Egen Sång'.
1968-09 Börn records his solo single 'Fröken Fredriksson'/'Vår Egen Sång'.
Björn on stage in Landskrona in 1968
1968-10-29 Björn and Benny records
their second Andersson/Ulvaeus compostion for the Hep Stars: 'A
Flower in my garden'.
1968late Agnetha's first album
'Agnetha Fältskog' is released.
1968-10/11 Benny and Björn write their first Andersson/Ulvaeus composition: 'Isn't It Easy To Say' for the Hep Stars.
1968-12-01 The single Sjung Denna Sång' and 'Någonting Händer Med Mej' is released.
1969:
1969-01-06 Agnetha performs at the 'Apollonia' in Stockholm before an audience. The majority were concert organizers.
1969-01-08 Frida is touring with the 'Charlie Norman show' in club 'Valand' in Gothenburg until the end of January
1969-01-08 Frida is touring with the 'Charlie Norman show' in club 'Valand' in Gothenburg until the end of January
1969-early Agnetha lives in West-Germany with her fiancé Dieter Zimmermann. The following German records, produced by Dieter Zimmermann are released on the Metronome Records GMBH label: 'Concerto D' Amore' / 'Wie Der Wind', 'Wer Schreibt Heut' Noch LIebesbriefe / Des Fest Der Pompadour', Fragezeichen Mag' Ich Nicht / Wie Der Nächste Autobus' and 'Ein Kleiner Mann In Einer Flasche / Ich Suche Liebe Bei Dir'.
1969-02-01 Benny's Hep Stars open their show at the Hamburger Börs in Stockholm.
1969-02-01 Benny's Hep Stars open their show at the Hamburger Börs in Stockholm.
1969-02-01 Benny and Frida meet each
other for the first time.
1969-02end Björn joins Benny's Hep
Stars for ten days as a temporary guitarist for Janne Frisck.
Björn joins the Hep Stars
1969-03 Agnetha's German single 'Concerto d'Amore/Wie Der Wind' is released.
1969-03-01 Frida performs 'Härlig Är
Vår Jord' at the Melodifestivalen and Jan Malmsjö performs the
Björn/Benny/ Berghagen production 'Hej Clown'.
1969-03-04 The Hep Stars (with
temporary guitarist Björn Ulvaeus) are in Malmö for the next three
days. On one of these days Benny sees Frida again.
1969-03-05 Benny and Björn write and
produce their 3rd Andersson/Ulvaeus recording 'Ljuva Sextital' for
Brita Borg.
1969-03-14 Agnetha performs her German
single 'Concerto d 'amore' on tv show Gala-Abend der Schallplatte
1969 in West-Berlin.
1969-03-21 The Hep Stars record Benny
and Björn's composition 'Speleman' and 'Precis Som Alla Andra'.
1969-03-31 Benny and Frida meet again
while recording the radio show 'Midnight Hour' where they appeared in
'Flip Eller Flop'.
1964-04 Agnetha's German single 'Wer Schreibt Heut' Noch Liebesbriefe/Das Fest Der Pompadour'.
1964-04 Agnetha's German single 'Wer Schreibt Heut' Noch Liebesbriefe/Das Fest Der Pompadour'.
1969-05 Agnetha and Dieter split up and Agnetha moves back to Sweden.
1969-05-04 Björn and Agnetha meet
each other for the first time on this Swedish tv Special: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mvPI1qjESA0
1969-05-11 Agnetha's single 'En Gång Fanns Bara Vi Två'/'Fram for Svenska Sommaren' is released.
The two couples in 1969
1969 Video: På turné Marianne Kock Sten &
Stanley Agnetha Fältskog: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2yZgcCAD_v8 including 'Min farbror Jonathan'.
1969-06 07 08 Frida records 'Så Synd Du Måste Gå' and 'Försök Och Sov På Saken'.
1969-06/07-08 Agnetha's single 'Hjärtats Kronprins'/'Tag Min Hand Låt Oss Bli Vänner' with the Sven-Olof Walldorff Orchestra is released. It did not make the Swedish chart.
1969-09-10 Björn, Benny and Frida
record 'Peter Pan'. The very first recording with 3 future ABBA
members working on one record.
The love couple in the summer of '69
Björn and Agnetha's relationship in a Swedish magazine in 1969
1969-10-04 Björn and Agnetha perform
at a popgala in Skellefteå. They had moved into an apartment on Lilla Essingen in Stockholm.
1969-late Agnetha's 2nd LP 'Agnetha
Fältskog Vol. 2' is released.
1969-11-23 Agnetha's single 'Zigenarvän'/'Som En Vind Kom Du Till Mej' reaches No.5 On Svensktoppen.
1970:
January:
1970-01-21 Agnetha records 'Litet
Solskensbarn' and 'Om tårar vore Guld'.
1970-early Agnetha records a German
song called 'Hocus Pokus' for the German pre-selections of the
Eurovision Songcontest. The song is never released on single (the
1970 edition of the Eurovsion Songcontest is held in The Netherlands
on March 21).
1970 Release of Agnetha's German single 'Fragezeichen Mag Ich Nicht'/'Wie Der Nächtste Autobus' and 'Ein Kleiner Mann in eine Flasche'/'I Suchte Liebe bei Dir'.
1970 Release of Agnetha's German single 'Fragezeichen Mag Ich Nicht'/'Wie Der Nächtste Autobus' and 'Ein Kleiner Mann in eine Flasche'/'I Suchte Liebe bei Dir'.
February:
1970-02-27 Recording 'There's A Little
Man' (backing vocals by Agnetha) for Billy G-son. and 'I Saw It In
The Mirror' (early backing track.
March:
1970-03late Frida performs at the
Forum in Älvsbyn.
1970-03 Release of B & B
single 'She's My Kind Of Girl'/'Inga Theme'.
1970-03-06 Frida records 'Där Du Går
Lämnar Kärleken Spår' and 'Du Var Främling Här Igår'.
April:
1970-04 Agnetha's single 'Om tårar vore Guld'/'Litet
Solskensbarn' is released.
1970-04-01 Benny and Frida move to a
flat in the Vasastan district in Stockholm.
1970-04-05 The foursome go on a 11-day
holiday to Cyprus. With guitars they sang together for the first
time, performing for United Nations soldiers stationed on the island.
Plans were made to include the girls in the recording of the B &
B 'Lycka' album. Agnetha and Björn get engaged.
1970-04mid Svenne & Lotta Hedlund
are informed by Björn and Benny about the plans for a cabaret tour
of their own with Frida and Agnetha during the autumn.
1970-04-30 Björn and Benny go on tour
again with Svenne & Lotta.
Benny
& Björn on stage with Svenne & Lotte
June:
1970-06-0208/09 Recording tracks for
the 'Lycka' album with 'Hej Gamle Man', with all four future ABBA
members and 'Liselott' with lyrics of Björn and Agnetha. Engineer
Michael Tretow and conductor Sven-Olof Walldorf were in it from this
moment on.
The two
couples in 1970
July:
1970-07/08 In the summer Agnetha
embarks on a solo Folkpark tour.
Agnetha on stage in Åhus
August:
1970-08-22 Björn and Benny with
Svenne & Lotte perform in Vretstorps Folkets Park at 11 pm.
1970-08-30 Björn and Benny have their
last gigs with Svenne & Lotte today.
September:
1970-09-02 Work on the B & B
'Lycka' album.
1970-09-04 Agnetha is back in the
studio to complete her 3nd Björn produced album 'Som Jag Är'.
Backing tracks for 'När Jag Var Fem', 'Som Ett Eko', 'Spela Vår
Sång', 'Ta Det Bara Med Ro' and 'Sov Gott Min Lilla Vän' are
recorded today.
1970-09-08 Recording tracks for
Frida's album with Benny as producer: 'Lycka', 'En Lång Och Ödslig
Vär', "Jag Är Beredd', 'Gå Min Väg', 'Jag Blir Galen När
Gag Tänker På Dig' and 'En Ton Av Tystnad'.
1970-09-10 Work on 'Kalles Visa' and
'Någonting Är På Väg' for the B & B 'Lycka' album.
1970-09-11 Backing tracks for
Agnetha's 3rd solo LP 'Som Jag Är' among which the Agnetha/Björn
duet 'Så Här Börjar Kärlek. Stig didn't want the song to be
included as a Börn/Agnetha duet on her album, because Agnetha had a
contract with a rival label. Therefore, Björn's name isn't
mentioned on her album. Recording of other Agnetha backing tracks:
'Du Ska Minnas Mig, Tänk Va Skönt, En Säng Och En Saga', 'Jag
Skall Göra Allt' and 'Hjärtats Saga'.
1970-09-20 ABBA's first appearance
ever on a Swedish tv show, performing the country song "California
Here I Come" and ABBA sing the chorus of "Red Roses For A
Blue Lady", with Swedish jazz singer "Gunnar Siljaboo.
1970-09-29 'Festfolk' on a Swedish radio show 'Vara Favoriter'. Agnetha sings 'Som Ett Eko' and Frida sings 'Barnen Sover', accompanied by the boys. As a quartet they perform 'Hej Gamle Man'.
1970-09-29 'Festfolk' on a Swedish radio show 'Vara Favoriter'. Agnetha sings 'Som Ett Eko' and Frida sings 'Barnen Sover', accompanied by the boys. As a quartet they perform 'Hej Gamle Man'.
The foursome during an unkown performance in 1970
1970-10 Agnetha's 3rd album 'Som
Jag Är' is released.
1970-10-21 Frida performs the
following old Swedish hits on tv-show Nar Stenkakan Slog: 'Ole
Lukköje', 'Vad Gor Det Att Vi Skiljs For I Afton', 'Att Alska I
Varens Tid', 'Min Soldat', Söderhavets Sång' and 'I Min Blommiga
Blå Krinolin'
Att Alska I Varens Tid
1970-10-31 The foursome appear on tv
show 'I Stället För Tarzan' (Instead Of Tarzan) with 'Hej Gamle
Man'.
1970-10-30 The four Festfolk/ABBA members rehearse in Malmö at the St. Jörgen for the upcoming show in Gothenburg.
November:
1970-11-01 The four friends decide to
go on stage as cabaret act 'Festfolk', debuting at the Trägarn club
in Gothenburg today with 'Hej Gamle Man'. The performance is not a
succes.
1970-11-04 ABBA members reheasing? in Gothenburg.
Festfolk on stage.
December:
1970-12-01/20 'Festfolk give a series
of concerts at the Strand club in Stockholm in December 1970. After
these concerts, the four friends go their seperate ways again.
1970-12-19 Recording tracks for
Frida's solo album, produced by Benny.