Loading details…
Loading details…
Artist
Mikko Kuustonen is not only well known for his ambitious music and touching lyrics, but also for his long-term commitment to international development. The music of Kuustonen is rooted deeply in Blues and singer-songwriter traditions. His first solo album was released as early as 1979, but it wasn’t until after Kuustonen and his friend Heikki Silvennoinen, a guitarist, started the band Q.Stone in the late 80s that his music became more popular. Soon the band was hosting a very special club in Café Metropol. This was the time when roots music was on the rise in Finland. The club was even given its own TV show, called 'Q-Klubi' (The Q-Club) , which was later followed by another music show, 'Q ja Tähdet' (Q and the Stars). The band made international contracts and toured around Europe with musicians like John Mayal and Philip Bailey. Three albums were recorded in English and released around the world. The turning point of Kuustonen’s career came in 1991 with the release of his platinum-selling solo album 'Musta Jalokivi' (The Black Jewel). The track 'Taivas Varjele' (Let Heaven Protect) won an Emma award, and 'Kaktusviinaa' (Cactus Wine) and 'Enkelit Lentää Sun Uniin' (The Angels are Flying into Your Dreams) are considered timeless. It was time to give up the band Q.Stone. In 1992 another one of Kuustonen’s albums, Abrakadabra, went platinum. The successful album were followed by the albums Aurora, 'Valon Valtakunta' (Kingdom of the Light), Siksak, Seepran Varjo (Shadow of th