{{Infobox musical artist | name = Viljo Vesterinen | image = Vilivesterinen.jpg | caption = | birth_date = {{Birth date|df=yes|1907|3|26}} | birth_place = Terijoki, Grand Duchy of Finland, Russian Empire<br />(present-day Zelenogorsk, Russia) | death_date = {{Death date and age|df=yes|1961|5|18|1907|3|26}} | death_place = Helsinki, Finland | occupation = Musician, composer | instrument = Accordion }} '''Viljo "Vili" Vesterinen''' (26 March 1907 – 18 May 1961) was a Finnish accordionist and composer.<ref name="kansallisbiografia">{{cite web |last1=Tikka |first1=Marko |title=Vesterinen, Viljo (1907 - 1961) |url=https://kansallisbiografia.fi/kansallisbiografia/henkilo/1029 |website=Kansallisbiografia |accessdate=24 June 2020 |date=30 July 2007}}</ref><ref name="pomus">{{cite web |last1=Pälli |first1=Erkki |title=Viljo Vesterinen |url=http://pomus.net/001540 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050108185056/http://pomus.net/001540 |url-status=usurped |archive-date=January 8, 2005 |website=Pomus |accessdate=24 June 2020}}</ref><ref name="yle">{{cite web |last1=Lindfors |first1=Jukka |title=Vili Vesterinen oli harmonikan hallitsija |url=https://yle.fi/aihe/artikkeli/2007/05/07/vili-vesterinen-oli-harmonikan-hallitsija |website=Yle |accessdate=24 June 2020 |date=7 May 2007}}</ref><ref name="hakasalo">{{cite web |last1=Hakasalo |first1=Ilpo |title=Vili Vesterinen |url=http://www.students.tut.fi/~funktio/vili.html |website=TUT |accessdate=24 June 2020 |archive-date=30 October 2003 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031030001813/http://www.students.tut.fi/~funktio/vili.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="vapaalehdykka">{{cite web |last1=Tikka |first1=Marko |title=Viljo Vesterinen |url=https://vapaalehdykka.net/viljo-vesterinen/ |website=Vapaa Lehdykkä |date=4 June 2016 |accessdate=24 June 2020}}</ref>
Vesterinen was born in Terijoki. He studied piano and cello at the Vyborg Music Institute, but as an accordionist he was self-taught. Vesterinen mainly played in different bands and theatres early in his career. Vesterinen made his first recordings in 1929. Vesterinen's most popular recording is Säkkijärven polkka (1939). Even though it is not Vesterinen's own song, his version of the song is one of its most popular renditions. Other popular songs are ''Metsäkukkia'' (1931), ''Hilpeä hanuri'' (1936) and ''Valssi menneiltä ajoilta'' (1939). Vesterinen made a total of 130 recordings during his career. Heavy use of alcohol and cigarettes caused his health to deteriorate and affected his ability to play.<ref name="kansallisbiografia"/>
Vesterinen also appeared in some films. The biopic ''Säkkijärven polkka'' (1955) is the story of Vesterinen's life.
thumb|center|Vesterinen in the 1930s
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== * [http://www.aanitearkisto.fi/firs2/nimi.php?Id=Vesterinen+Viljo List of recordings of Vesterinen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140305070612/http://www.aanitearkisto.fi/firs2/nimi.php?Id=Vesterinen+Viljo |date=2014-03-05 }} * [http://www.aanitearkisto.fi/firs2/saveltaja.php?Id=Vesterinen+Viljo List of compositions of Vesterinen] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110718190239/http://www.aanitearkisto.fi/firs2/saveltaja.php?Id=Vesterinen+Viljo |date=2011-07-18 }}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Vesterinen, Viljo}} Category:1907 births Category:1961 deaths Category:People from Zelenogorsk, Saint Petersburg Category:People from Viipuri Province (Grand Duchy of Finland) Category:Finnish accordionists Category:Finnish male composers Category:Finnish military personnel of World War II Category:20th-century accordionists Category:20th-century male musicians Category:20th-century Finnish composers
{{Finland-musician-stub}}