Sanne Salomonsen

Sanne Salomonsen is a Danish vocalist, songwriter and actress born on 30 December 1955 in Copenhagen, Denmark. Lovingly nicknamed Rock Mama, for her leading position as female voice in Danish rock.

Sanne Salomonsen had an early TV debut when she was 6 years old in the Danish national play Elves' Hill. Joined her first rock band in 1967, and then Curled Edges when she was 13 in the progressive rock community, such as members of Beefeaters (2), Thors Hammer and Young Flowers. Gained attention at the age of 15, when she starred as Sheila in the Danish version of the musical Hair. This gave her the nickname Little Sanne Superstar and lead to roles in other musicals, such as Godspell (Den Danske Originalindspilning). Released her first solo album in 1973, and was soon recognized for her remarkable singing abilities that adapted into several genres. Recruited by the Manhattan Transfer-styled Flair (4) in 1974-77. Member of Anne Linnet Band in 1979-83 with Lis Sørensen and Anne Linnet, but really took the position as the Danish Rock Mama while fronting Sneakers (6) in 1980-85, followed by the re-launch as a solo artist. Sanne had her first leading role in a feature film in 1983 that was titled Forræderne. Her father also passed away in 1983 because of long-term illness. Sanne starred in the Swedish feature films Smugglarkungen and Svindlande affärer, and sang on the charity single Afrika that were released in 1985. She was co-writer with Anne Linnet of the 1988 AIDS-awareness single Den Jeg Elsker Elsker Jeg, sung by Thomas Helmig and Søs Fenger that became a hit in Scandinavia, and won "IFPI-prisen" for Danish Hit of the Year. She has also toured in Sweden since the 1980s, where she became famous as a solo artist. Sang backing vocals extensively in the '70s and '80s for, among others, Sebastian (5) and Marquis De Sade (7).

Though remaining a popular artist, Sanne Salomonsen's solo career has seen both artistic ups and downs. One of the peaks was the top-selling 1989 album Sanne. She won "Dansk Grammy" for Danish singer of the year in 1992 and 1995, as well as best Danish live release in 1995 due to Sanne Salomonsen - Unplugged. Her life-long interest in jazz resulted in the collaborative album In A New York Minute in 1998. In 2001, she was member of the country band Cowgirls with Lis Sørensen and Tamra Rosanes. In 2003, Sanne returned as a solo artist with the album Freedom followed by The Album in 2005. On 5 May 2006, she suffered a brain hemorrhage that kept her out of music until 2009, when she re-entered the charts with the Unico album.

Sanne Salomonsen was married to jazz bassist Bo Stief in 1975-80, lived with fellow Sneakers band member Morten Kærså in 1979-84, and was married to Swedish musician Mats Ronander in 1985-92 with whom she had her sole child, Mnemic guitarist Victor Ray Salomonsen Ronander, in 1988.