Pianist and composer Stefan Nilsson passed away on Thursday after a period of illness. He died peacefully in his home with his immediate family present. Stefan suffered from the incurable disease ALS," the family writes in a press release.
Long career
Stefan Nilsson was born in Kukasjärvi in Hietaniemi in Norrbotten, but moved to Stockholm as a young man to study piano at the Royal College of Music in Stockholm, including with Gunnar Hallhagen.
Nilsson had a rich and varied music career both as an arranger and pianist. He played in the jazz band Kornet, started collaborating with Tommy Körberg and Björn Afzelius.
In the early 80s he began composing film music and in 1998 received a Guldbagge for creative efforts in Swedish film.
The list of music he has written for films is long. Among other things, "Gabriella's song" in "As in heaven". Also music for films such as Beckfilmerna, Lorry, Yrrol and the archipelago doctor. He has also worked on Lasse Åberg's "The Involuntary Golfer" as well as Bille August's and Ingmar Bergman's "The Good Will" and "Pelle the Conqueror".
In 2022, SVT met Stefan Nilsson in connection with making music for the Swedish Navy's 500th anniversary.
Tribute concert
The news of ALS came in February, which led to old colleagues such as Helen Sjöholm, Benny Andersson and Tommy Körberg arranging a tribute concert while he was healthy enough to participate. "Music for Life" on May 8 at Filadelfiakyrkan in Stockholm was Stefan Nilsson's last concert at the grand piano.