23 Facts About Benny Andersson

Goran Bror Benny Andersson was born 16 December 1946 in the Vasastan district of Stockholm to civil engineer Gosta Andersson and his wife Laila.

Andersson's musical background comes from his father and grandfather ; they both enjoyed playing the accordion, and at six, Benny got his own.

The first records Benny bought were "Du Bist Musik" by Italian schlager singer Caterina Valente and Elvis Presley's "Jailhouse Rock".

Benny Andersson was especially impressed by the flip side, "Treat Me Nice", as this featured a piano.

At ten, Benny Andersson got his own piano and taught himself to play.

Benny Andersson left school at 15 and began to perform at youth clubs.

Benny Andersson secured his place as the band's keyboardist and musical driving force as well as a teen idol.

Benny Andersson met Bjorn Ulvaeus in June 1966, and the two men started writing songs together, their first being "Isn't It Easy To Say", eventually recorded by the Hep Stars.

The duo named themselves Gemini, and a second album with more music by Bjorn and Benny was released in April 1987, containing the big hit "Mio My Mio"; to be found on the soundtrack to the film Mio in the Land of Faraway, for which Andersson co-produced the music.

In 1987, Benny Andersson released his first solo album Klinga Mina Klockor.

In July 2009, BAO, now named "The Benny Andersson Band", released their first international record, the album The Story of a Heart.

In 1987, Benny Andersson wrote music and co-produced the soundtrack with Anders Eljas for the film Mio in the Land of Faraway, based on Swedish author Astrid Lindgrens Mio, My Son.

Benny Andersson wrote the theme for Roy Andersson's next film, You, the Living, from 2007.

Benny Andersson wrote the film score for the 2012 documentary Palme about Swedish prime minister Olof Palme.

Benny Andersson later won a Guldbagge Award for Best Original Score, for that film at the 48th Guldbagge Awards.

Together with Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson was nominated for a Drama Desk Award in a category "Outstanding Music", and for a Tony Award in a category "Best Orchestrations".

In 2002, Benny Andersson was given an honorary professorship by the Swedish Government for his "ability to create high-class music reaching people around the world".

On 15 March 2010, Benny Andersson appeared on stage in New York with former wife Anni-Frid Lyngstad to accept ABBA's award of induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Benny Andersson won the Swedish "Guldbaggen" award in 2012 as composer of the music for the film "Palme".

The couple split in 1966 and Christina kept custody of the children as Benny Andersson was then at the peak of his Hep Stars' success.

Benny Andersson was in a relationship with Anni-Frid Lyngstad of ABBA for about 11 years, from 1969 till 1980.

Benny Andersson was an alcoholic through much of his adult life.

Benny Andersson did not disclose the extent of his substance abuse problems until a 2011 interview, at which point he had maintained nearly a decade of sobriety.