Ketil Stokkan
He is born in 1956 in Harstad in the North of Norway. His career started mid 1970’s with a couple of years in the band Nexus. The public success came after 1977 when he joined the band ZOO. With first two albums in English, and then four in Norwegian – with Ketil as front vocalist and main songwriter, this band became a household name in Norway.
In 1983, the ZOO members went each their way, and Ketil Stokkan began his solo career. First stop on that career was the Norwegian national final. He finished second in 1983. Later he would take part two more times; in 1986 and 1990 – and win the Eurovision ticket on both of those occasions.
Nexus got back together again in 1989, and shortly after changed name to Stokkan Band. Zoo got back together again in 1999, and Ketil Stokkan got busy. He was now working as a school teacher and performing with Zoo and Stokkan Band. In recent years, he has been performing with the band Funky Ducks – and quite surprisingly returned to the Melodi Grand Prix stage again 2021.
Four Melodi Grand Prix and Eurovision participations from Ketil Stokkan
- 1983: Samme Charmeur finished second in the Norwegian national final
- 1986: Romeo won the Norwegian final, and finished in 12th place at the Eurovision Song Contest
- 1990: Brandenburger Tor won the Norwegianl final, and unfortunately finished in tied last position (21st) with Finland
- 2021: My Life Is OK took part in the 2021 national selection. Unfortunately, it didn’t qualify directly to the final.