NorVille represents a blend of musical talents from Norway and Nashville. Founding members Ottar Johansen and Joe Sun created the union after performing together at the Frank Brown International Songwriters Festival in 2009. Explains Johansen, “On this evening, Joe and I took the stage with fellow writers Dean Dillon and the late Hank Cochran. As we left the stage Joe and I hooked up for a beer and began discussing our unique musical heritage. We realized that we had something of substance – a Norway Nashville country connection - to share with the world. It was a magical moment in my career.”

The final product is the 14-track CD, NorVille,” featuring the song “Take Me Back” written by members Johansen, Joe Sun and Tore Andersen– a tribute song for Norwegian-American immigrants. The song was premiered by NorVille at the opening of the Nashville chapter of Sons of Norway (Music City Vikings) in October 2009. The group showcases strong vocal performances from each member, resulting in a delightful blend of vocal harmonies.

Ottar “Big Hand” Johansen, known as the Johnny Cash of Norway, has had his share of magical moments. A major star and national television host, Johansen has been recording and touring for three decades. He has received seven Norwegian Grammy nominations and two Norwegian Grammy awards; plus a string of silver and gold sales status records, based on hits like “Song For Sulis,” “I’m Still Your Fool,” Prisoners Of The Blue,” and “Blue Norwegian Moon.”

Singer, songwriter and producer Joe Sun, a Nashville icon and legend originally from Minnesota, has spent 40 years at his trade; working both his US and international careers with success. Joe’s self-penned and co-written songs like “Old Flames Can’t Hold a Candle to You,” “Bombed, Boozed and Busted,” “Some Lucky Stardust,” and his faith-inspired “I Came on Business for the King” - cut by Johnny Cash on his last recordings – have endeared him to fans from Europe to the Bluebird Café in Nashville.

Tore Andersen is the Norwegian Grammy winner 2010 for best country music album of the year “Right Around The Corner.” He is a much-respected singer/songwriter in Scandinavia, as well as in the Nashville creative environment. Tore topped the Norwegian national radio NRK1 charts for several weeks with his hit song “Goodbye Blues.” He joined NorVille in 2009.

Brent Moyer, a native Wyoming singer/songwriter/guitarist living in Nashville, will be an associate member with NorVille; as will Karen Pendley, a folk singer and fiddle player living in Nashville. Karen specializes in Celtic and traditional Norwegian/Scandinavian folk music and American bluegrass music.

NorVille took the concept to the open road in June 2010, playing dates in Nashville, TN; Detroit, MI; Ft. Wayne, IN and Milwaukee, WI. The group will release their CD “Take Me Back,” to support their 2011 Midwest tour. The tour kicks off May 13th -15th in Stoughton, WI for the weekend celebration of Norway’s Constitution Day on May 17 with additional dates in the American-Norwegian regions of the Midwest.

For more information, please contact:
Global Eyes Entertainment LLC,

ramona@globaleyesentertainment.com, 615.882.0242

Preston Sullivan,

preston@globaleyesentertainment.com, 615.405.3103
 

International Bookings:
Ottar Johansen,

ottar@bighand.no, +47.91.58.8000
 

www.norville.no

OTTAR BIG HAND JOHANSEN

Ottar Big Hand Johansen: The "Grand Ole Man" of Scandinavian country music. It is one hot summer afternoon at Nashville’s Fan Fair of 1984. Thousands of fans crowd beneath the stage in anticipation.

Country music legend George Jones does the introduction at the international show, "Ladies and gentlemen, all the way from Norway..." Fronting "Country Jamboree", named best European country band by CMA that very same year, OTTAR "BIG HAND" JOHANSEN starts off their opening number with just his voice and guitar; ..."Will the circle be unbroken..." Today that same song is still his signature - as well as his gentle persona, country soul and friendly smile.

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 Waylon 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 in the mid 80´s.

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 just recently released the compilation album "30 years on the road/Best of Big Hand" (New Cut Records). This, his 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 withstanding careers.

It is said to have been many Norwegian sailors, coming back home from across the Atlantic, bringing their brand new telecasters and Buck Owens records with them, who are mainly responsible for boosting the popularity of country music amongst the Norwegians back in the 60´s. One man is still carrying that torch...

Read more: www.myspace.com/bighandsaloon