Georg Wadenius (1945-2026)

Georg Wadenius, the award-winning guitarist, vocalist, composer, arranger and producer, died on April 30, 2026 at the age of 80. He first joined Local 802 in 1972.

Mr. Wadenius, known in his native Sweden as Jojje, began his career playing in the groups Made in Sweden and Solar Plexus and also writing songs for children. He quickly became one of the most sought-after studio players in Stockholm.

His fame skyrocketed when he joined Blood, Sweat and Tears, a collaboration that endured from 1972 to 1975. He moved to NYC and became a member of the “Saturday Night Live” band from 1979 to 1985.

In 1987, Mr. Wadenius released the highly-regarded solo album “Cleo,” one of the many albums he recorded in his career.

By then, he was one of the top session guitarists in New York, recording and occasionally touring with Luther Vandross, Roberta Flack, Diana Ross, Dionne Warwick, Aretha Franklin, Donald Fagen, Michael Franks, Joe Thomas, Backstreet Boys and countless others. He also toured with Simon and Garfunkel and Steely Dan, subbed in the Blues Brothers Band, and recorded personal projects like the album “Gewadoka” with composer/artist Doug Katsaros.

Then, in the mid-1990’s, at the peak of his career, Mr. Wadenius made a big move. He went back to Scandinavia, settled in Oslo, began leading jazz trios and quartets, and started the next phase of his recording career. A short list of albums from that time include “Interloop” with Magnus Lindgren; “Reconnection,” featuring various vocal artists, notably Frida (of ABBA fame), Nina Persson, Andreas Kleerup, Peter Jöback, Helen Sjöholm, Nicolai Dunger, Rita Eriksen and Silje Nergaard; a live album with the group Gejoma (with Jonas Holgersson and Mattias Svensson); an album with the Norrbotten Big Band; the album “Farvel” with Bendik Hofseth and Kjetil Bjerkestrand; a collaboration with the groups Hymns and Trio X called “Pslamer”; and seven jazz quintet arrangements of classical composer Edvard Grieg’s music.

Mr. Wadenius’ career began with children’s songs and he kept up this passion over his entire life. Songs like “Goda, goda.” “Puss puss, sant sant” and the theme song to “Kalles Klattertrad” were recorded early on, and he later recorded “Zzoppa,” “Hajar Du” and an album of children’s songs with the Gothenburg Symphony Orchestra and Trio X entitled “Jojjes klassiska barnvisor.” He released an album of children’s songs set to poems by Lotta Olsson, called “Livet är nu.” (Lotta Olsson also wrote lyrics for the musical revue “Prata högre, Karin,” with music by Mr. Wadenius.) He also wrote music for two children’s musicals, “Teddy og Marian” and “Bakgårdens Orkester.”

Mr. Wadenius loved Christmas music. He released the best-selling “Jul På Svenska” (“Swedish Christmas”) with Arild Andersen and Jan Lundgren to rave reviews. Dagens Nyheter wrote that the album was “the only Christmas album you need to have.” Another Christmas album was “Jul på Norska” with Arild Andersen and Jan Lundgren.

He also produced several albums with various Scandinavian artists, including Silje Nergaard, Lisa Ekdahl, Jan Eggum, Sigvart Dagsland, Rita Eriksen, Anne Grete Preus, Anne Sofie von Otter and others.

Mr. Wadenius never lost his love of touring. In 2013, he put together a supergroup with Per Lindvall (drums) Lars Larry Danielsson (bass) and Jesper Nordenström (keyboards) to play the music from his legendary 1987 album “Cleo.” They toured and recorded the albums “Cleo2” and “Cleo with Friends.” A year later, he added Lou Marini and Lew Soloff to the band and called the project The New York Connection. They enjoyed tours and playing clubs and festivals in Norway and Sweden.

Lou Marini told Allegro, “I met Georg in 1971 when I joined Blood, Sweat and Tears. Georg was already a star in Sweden with his band Made In Sweden and it was immediately evident why. He was brilliant, charismatic and passionate and totally honest in his playing and as a person. We became close friends and maintained our friendship these 55 years, both the same age, both Tauruses, birthdays a week apart. We played hundreds of gigs together over the years, in the studio, the SNL band and two wonderful tours with Lew Soloff and his great Scandinavian quartet. He was beloved by the Blues Brothers Band for his occasional subs with us. He was someone to look up to and admire, generous, great sense of humor and fun to be around. He never stopped growing as a person, facing the long illness of his wife and memorializing her in his music and lyrics. I spoke to him not long before his death and he had a full agenda of upcoming gigs and projects, energetic as ever. I’m shocked, saddened but proud and lucky to have known him and counted him as a friend. He was a beautiful cat.”

Mr. Wadenius also enjoyed many years touring as a trio with Helen Sjöholm and Martin Östergren. (In fact, his last gig was with them less than a week before his passing.)

In 2022, Mr. Wadenius’ beloved wife Brit Gronnevik passed away. This loss was the genesis of his album “Livet ar mer an Musik” (“Life is More than Music”) with lyrics by Lotta Olson. He and friend and fellow musician Lotta Hasslequist Nilsson toured around Sweden talking about their lives in music and each of their losses of the great loves of their lives.

Mr. Wadenius was the recipient of five “Swedish Grammy awards” (called “Grammis”) as well as countless Swedish music awards, including the Hagström Prize, Guitar People Prize, the Cornelis Prize, Heffaklumpen and Swedish Radio’s Guldkatten.

In 2024, he was the recipient of the Swedish Royal Litteris et Artibus medal from King Carl XVI Gustaf in 2024, awarded to individuals who have made significant contributions to culture.

Mr. Wadenius is survived by his daughters Annika Wadenius Ehrlich (Gregor) and Jennifer Gilman (Keith), stepdaughter Malene Kalvik (Kjaerand Moe), and grandchildren Loden Ehrlich, Shael Ehrlich, Hannah Gilman, Lila Gilman, Linnea Moe and Olivia Moe.

“He was playing gigs up until the very end, and had so many projects and recordings planned. Keep playing up there, Dad. We love you.” said Annika and Jennifer in a statement to Allegro.

This obituary was based on Mr. Wadenius’ biography on his website, which also contains more information about his life and his discography: https://www.wadenius.com/