Solveig Leithaug

Bio:

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For more than 20 years, Dove Award-winning recording artist Solveig Leithaug (Sol-vey Light-houg) has won audiences worldwide with her soothing voice, remarkable guitar playing and songwriting talents. From being a guest artist at official parliament functions, to doing worship services from prisons to jazz cafés, cathedrals and arenas, Solveig seeks to make music that brings peace, inspires and uplifts. An original member of the Oslo Gospel Choir, (with over one million sold CDs,) she’s been a staple on the Scandinavian gospel scene and performed throughout Europe and the USA since her late teens. In 1984, at the tender age of 18, she was awarded as “Artist of the Year”, by the music magazine “Treff”, and at 20, Solveig received the Dove Award as “International Artist of the Year” by the Gospel Music Association in Nashville, TN. In 2008 she was given the Telly Award and the 2008 Angel Award for her music video "All the Way to Heaven", produced by Dan & Raven Rubottom, Epiphany Creative. Her first Christmas CD "Christmas Peace" was released in 2009, produced by Steve Hindalong (Sixpense None the Richer, Jeremy Camp, The Choir, City on a Hill). The CD features a collection of 12 of Solveig's most cherished Christmas carols, four of which are Scandinavian classics that Steve and Solveig have translated to English. "Christmas Peace" was also recorded in a Norwegian version "Julefred", which was released in November, 2008. An ordained minister since 1994, she has contributed commentary to Thomas Nelsons “Women of Destiny Bible”. She was featured on Bill Gaither’s Homecoming DVD “How Great Thou Art” taped at the Grand Ole Opry in 2007, and has performed on numerous Homecoming concerts since 2005. Solveig also leads worship for conferences, retreats and special events, and was humbled to serve in this position at Billy Graham's daughter Anne Graham Lotz' "Just Give Me Jesus" in Oslo, May of 2007, which to date is the largest gathering of women ever in Norway. Solveig has released six solo projects in English, and seven in her native Norwegian, in addition to three bestselling children's CDs. An island girl at heart, Solveig grew up on Norway’s west coast. Besides her two "home lands"; Norway and the USA, she has performed in nations such as Albania, South Africa, Malaysia, Brazil, Germany, Poland, Holland, Monaco, Finland, Austria, The United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland. Her life has not been without its trials. After 17 years of marriage, Solveig became a single mother, awarded with sole custody of her three children by the courts of Colorado, her home state for nearly 16 years. Determined to continue welcoming and embracing God's grace for every day in spite of devestating losses and heart breaks, Solveig continued to develope new music, accepting offers to write, tour and record. On May 30th, 2009 Solveig was wed to widower Jim Chaffee, founder and president of Chaffee Management Group LLC, who served as the executive producer for her latest "Christmas Peace". Deeply grateful for a fresh start, they live on a forest clad hill in Nashville, Tennessee.

Member Since:

October 17, 2006

Influences:

Eva Cassidy, Amy Grant, Evie Tornquist, Andrae Crouch, Larry Norman, Sixpence None The Richer, Edvard Grieg, James Taylor, Fernando Ortega, Sarah Groves & Alison Krauss...

Sounds Like:

"Listening to Solveig singing is like the pure vibrations of an innocent soul. She by-passes our cynical scar tissue and stylistic prejudices and goes -- like the laughter of a child -- straight to the heart." Gloria Gaither

Record Label:

Authentic Records/ Mudi Records