Tõnis Mägi

Tõnis Mägi (born 18 November 1948 in Tallinn) is an Estonian singer, guitarist, composer and actor. He is one of the most influential and remarkable names in Estonian rock music of the past 40 years. More recently, he is known for his political activity in support of the right-wing populist and national-conservative Conservative People's Party of Estonia as well as vaccine hesitancy.

Early life

He grew up in a musical family and became interested in music during his early childhood. While attending in the Tallinn 22nd High School (now Jakob Westholm Gymnasium) he started performing as the choir's soloist in the early grades. After learning to play guitar, Mägi started his musician career as a guitarist in school bands Juuniorid (1965) and Rütmikud (1966). After serving in the compulsory Soviet Army he became the vocalist of Baltika. Later he sang in the bands Kärjed, Laine, Muusik Seif, 777 and Ultima Thule.

Career

In the 1970s and 1980s, Mägi gained popularity not only in Estonia, but in the whole Soviet Union. One of his most popular songs ''Olimpiada-80'' () became a symbol of the 1980 Moscow Olympics. In 1987, he gave his last concert in Russia, after which he returned to Estonia and focused on the Singing Revolution. Among other patriotic songs of the time, Mägi's song ''Koit'' (Estonian for ''Dawn'') became a symbol of freedom.

Since 1996 he has been working in Vanemuine theatre in Tartu.

Political activity

In January 2007, Mägi became a member of the political party Estonian Greens. He stood as a candidate in the Estonian parliamentary election in 2007, receiving 1215 votes.

Since then Tõnis Mägi has communicated skeptical sentiments around the European Union and its interpretations of what's allowable. He has also expressed support towards the right-wing populist national-conservative Conservative People's Party of Estonia.

He performed at a concert following the Independence Day torch-march, which was organized by the conservative youth formation of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia called Blue Awakening. He also called for electing a member of the Conservative People's Party of Estonia Henn Põlluaas at the presidential elections of 2021.

On April 22, 2017 Tõnis Mägi opposed the Rail Baltic rail line connecting the Baltic States to the rest of the European rail transit system.

On October 23, 2021 Tõnis Mägi performed on Freedom Square in Tallinn during a demonstration against Covid-19 measures. On a video broadcast prior to that, he called for participation on the demonstration, quoting Leelo Tungal poetry, which the author disapproved of. He has also received criticism due to his messaging around vaccine-skepticism. Tõnis Mägi was planning to attend the spring demonstration as well, but he was unable to attend.

Decorations

In 1999, the President of Estonia decorated Tõnis Mägi with a IV Class Order of the White Star and in 2010 with the III Class Order of the National Coat of Arms.

Personal

Tõnis Mägi met his first wife, Virve, while still a student. In 1980, he married actress and dancer Laine Michelson-Adamson with whom he has a daughter, Liis-Katrin (born 1983). The couple divorced in 1988. In the same year he met his third wife, Piia, with whom he soon emigrated to Sweden. After her death, Mägi had to raise their daughter, Maarja (born 1992), by himself. Currently, Tõnis Mägi is married to singer Kärt Johanson. They have two daughters: Liidia (born 1999) and Mirt (born 2004). Mägi's daughter from his second marriage, Liis-Katrin, is married to actor Märt Avandi.

Discography

* 1980 ''Олимпиада-80''
* ''Детектив''
* ''Я не умею танцевать''
* ''Любимый мой дворик''
* ''Вот возьму и уеду''
* ''Секундомер''
* ''Меняю''
* ''Сердце не спит''
* 1981 ''Tōnis Mägi & «Muusik Seif»''
* 1983 ''Mäe Kaks Nōlva
* 1990 ''Tõnis'' LP, ZEN 2019 Rockadillo Records
* 1993 ''Hüüdja hääl'' CD, Trio
* 1995 ''Liivakell'' CD, SaluMuusik Rec
* 1996 ''Las jääda kõik, mis hea 1'' CD, ERC008 Eesti Raadio: Jaak Joala, Ivo Linna
* 1996 ''Las jääda kõik, mis hea 2'' CD, ERC009 Eesti Raadio: Jaak Joala, Ivo Linna
* 1998 ''Kaunilt kaua'' CD, Tõnis Mägi
* 2000 ''Eesti Kullafond'' 2CD, HFCD024 Hitivabrik
* 2002 ''Pühendus'' DVD, Digibox OÜ
* 2003 ''Jäljed'' CD, ARM Music
* 2003 ''Siirius'' CD, ARM Music
* 2005 ''Vestlus Hermanniga'' CD, T. Mägi
* 2006 ''2teist'' CD, Sanofi Aventis
* 2008 ''KIIK & KIRIK'' CD, T. Mägi ja Politseiorkester
* 2011 ''Tarkus'' CD, Elwood Muusik OÜ

References

External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Magi, Tonis
1948 births
Living people
Estonian pop singers
Estonian rock singers
20th-century Estonian male singers
Estonian guitarists
Estonian composers
Recipients of the Order of the National Coat of Arms, 3rd Class
Recipients of the Order of the White Star, 4th Class
Soviet male singers
Male actors from Tallinn
Singers from Tallinn
Soviet pop singers
20th-century guitarists
21st-century Estonian male singers