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Sweden remembers popular folk legend

The Local Sweden
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Sweden remembers popular folk legend
Swedish artist Robert Broberg. Photo: Gunnar Ask/Pressens bild AB

Swedes are paying tribute to one of the Nordic country's most beloved artists and comedians, Robert Broberg, who passed away in the early hours of Tuesday.

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Robert 'Robban' Broberg died surrounded by his family shortly after midnight on Tuesday. The 75-year-old artist had been battling an unusual form of Parkinson's disease for years.

“He fell asleep peacefully, with the children around him,” his daughter Ane Broberg told Swedish news wire TT.

Born in Solna north of Stockholm in 1940, the singer and guitarist reached his height of popularity in the 1970s and released more than 20 albums during his long career.


Robert Broberg in 1965. Photo: SCANPIX

Many Swedes, young and old, are still able to recite some of Broberg's most famous lyrics by heart – such as cheeky 'Uppblåsbara Barbara' about an inflatable doll and pun-heavy tune 'Båtlåt' about two boats falling in love.

Stars such as opera singer Malena Ernman were among those leading social media tributes to the popular artist on Tuesday.

“One of our greatest,” wrote Ernman of her friend and colleague.

Meanwhile public broadcaster SVT is set to interrupt its usual schedule with an extra tribute on Sunday in memory of the star, who was widely considered to be one of Sweden's foremost lyricists.

“He was so incredibly special. I have never met such a talented artist. I don't want people to associate him with his illness – he was more than that,” his ex-wife Eva Bolin told the Expressen tabloid.

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