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ABBA Founder Dies

September 16, 1997 12:00 AM ET

Swedish music veteran Stig Anderson, the man who discovered Abba, died suddenly of a heart attack Friday (September 12) in Stockholm. He was 66. Anderson published his first song in 1953 and formed Sweden Music in 1960. He built a Scandinavian publishing stronghold, acquiring domestic and foreign rights and establishing himself as a writer of Swedish lyrics. In 1964, he set up Polar Records, and in 1970, signed Bjorn Ulvaeus and Benny Andersson, who were to become the creative core of Abba, one of the world's most successful recording acts. He also founded the Polar Music Prize, Sweden's annual award to recognize musical achievement on an international basis.

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