Birgit Ridderstedt (November 26, 1914 â€" September 16, 1985) was a
Swedish-American folk singer who appeared at festivals and on
television in the 1950s and early 1960s with material she produced
herself.Born in Ludvika, Sweden, a daughter of Stefan Anderson and
Ragnhild Fredrika Sandberg, she emigrated with her husband C. Erik
Ridderstedt and their two small sons to the United States in 1950,
settling in Chicago and later in Batavia, Illinois.Ridderstedt gave
presentations on Scandinavian music and folklore on WTTW and WGN
television in Chicago in the 1950s and early 1960s. She began by
assisting her husband's business as an importer of gift items and
handcrafted artwork from Sweden. She appeared on public service and
commercial television in Chicago. On Polka Go-Round she featured young
children singing Swedish songs and high school youths folk dancing.
When after 12 years Ridderstedt left Illinois, a total of 45 young
people had been with her on some ten TV programs about such
Scandinavian celebrations as Midsummer, Lucy Day and Passion Plays;
she had also performed four times with her groups in the annual
Swedish Days festivities of Geneva, Illinois, and had appeared with
orations and songs for various organizations.Ridderstedt organized
entertainment for festivals and parades in the Fox Valley (Illinois),
and also opened her own gift shop. Ridderstedt returned to Sweden in
1962 with her family, but was also active in western Florida in the
1970s with her folk song programs.
Swedish-American folk singer who appeared at festivals and on
television in the 1950s and early 1960s with material she produced
herself.Born in Ludvika, Sweden, a daughter of Stefan Anderson and
Ragnhild Fredrika Sandberg, she emigrated with her husband C. Erik
Ridderstedt and their two small sons to the United States in 1950,
settling in Chicago and later in Batavia, Illinois.Ridderstedt gave
presentations on Scandinavian music and folklore on WTTW and WGN
television in Chicago in the 1950s and early 1960s. She began by
assisting her husband's business as an importer of gift items and
handcrafted artwork from Sweden. She appeared on public service and
commercial television in Chicago. On Polka Go-Round she featured young
children singing Swedish songs and high school youths folk dancing.
When after 12 years Ridderstedt left Illinois, a total of 45 young
people had been with her on some ten TV programs about such
Scandinavian celebrations as Midsummer, Lucy Day and Passion Plays;
she had also performed four times with her groups in the annual
Swedish Days festivities of Geneva, Illinois, and had appeared with
orations and songs for various organizations.Ridderstedt organized
entertainment for festivals and parades in the Fox Valley (Illinois),
and also opened her own gift shop. Ridderstedt returned to Sweden in
1962 with her family, but was also active in western Florida in the
1970s with her folk song programs.
Share this
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
SUBSCRIBE OUR NEWSLETTER
Join us for free and get valuable content delivered right through your inbox.