Tõnis Mägi

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 (Олимпиада) 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.

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 1988, he divorced his second wife actress Laine Mägi, with whom he had a daughter Liis-Kartin was born (1983). In the same year he met his third wife Piia, with whom he soon emigrated to Sweden. After her death Tõnis had to raise their daughter Maarja (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