Erling Stordahl (1 August 1923 – 31 October 1994) was a Norwegian farmer and singer. He is best known for the around 120 songs he recorded throughout 17 years from 1951 together with

Gunnar Engedahl Gunnar Engedahl (10 December 1919 – 23 March 1969) was a Norwegian singer. Best known for the around 120 songs he recorded throughout 17 years from 1951 together with Erling Stordahl Erling Stordahl (1 August 1923 – 31 October 1994) was a Nor ...

. They met at the Norwegian Association of the Blind and Partially Sighted, and made their first hit as a duo in 1951, produced by Odeon. Erling Stordahl claimed the family line of Norway's King

Magnus the Blind Magnus Sigurdsson (c. 1115 – 12 November 1139), also known as Magnus the Blind, was King of Norway (being Magnus IV) from 1130 to 1135 and again from 1137 to 1139. His period as king marked the beginning of the civil war era in Norway, which las ...

. His cultural leadership continued after his recording career. He raised the money to found the Beitostølen Health Sports Centre, for the handicapped children and adults of Europe, in one evening

telethon A telethon (a portmanteau of "television" and "marathon") is a televised fundraising event that lasts many hours or even days, the purpose of which is to raise money for a charitable, political or other purportedly worthy cause. Most telethons f ...

, a part of the Norwegian Red Feather campaign. He also founded the Stordahl Centre for Art and Culture, and presided as chair of the United Nations' International Year for the Handicapped. The yearly Ridderrennet at

Beitostølen Beitostølen is a village in Øystre Slidre Municipality in Innlandet county, Norway. The village is located at an elevation of about above mean sea level on the southern edge of the Valdresflye mountain plateau. The villages of Skammestein a ...

in Norway was also established by Erling Stordahl. When Ridderrennet travelled to Minneapolis, Minnesota, Stordahl inspired the blind cross country skier Diane Ziegler, who founded the Association for Blind Living and Education (ABLE), Out of Sight Clubs, and celebrity fashion shows for the blind and sighted. Stordahl's approach to recreation for the handicapped was also a model for the Sons of Norway Ski for Light program brought to the United States by Olav Pedersen.

References

*Reed G: Beitostolen, Shangri la for the handicapped. The Physician and Sportsmedicine. November, 1978, pages 146 to 150. 1923 births 1994 deaths Norwegian human rights activists Norwegian disability rights activists Place of birth missing 20th-century Norwegian male singers 20th-century Norwegian singers {{Norway-singer-stub