Laila Kinnunen

Laila Kinnunen (aka: Laura Annikki Kinnunen, born November 8, 1939 in Vantaa, † 26 October 2000 in Heinavesi ) was a Finnish singer. She was popular in the 1950s and 1960s.

As a refugee of World War II, she spent her childhood in Sweden, as a ten- year-old she was able to return to Finland. She won a 1955 song contest in Helsinki and shortly thereafter became soloist in the orchestra by Lasse Pihlajamaa. Their first single Lazzarella 1957 was already a success, the others followed. In the 1960s, she expanded her musical range and you could hear bossa nova, jazz, folk and musical melodies from her.

She was the first participant in Finland ever Grand Prix Euro Vision 1961 in Cannes. With her ​​ballad Valoa ikkunassa she reached the tenth place.

In the early 1970s Laila Kinnunen moved slowly back from the music business. A comeback attempt in 1980 was unsuccessful.

The singer Ritva Kinnunen ( born 1937 ) is her sister.