The Monn Keys
| Company type | Vocal ensemble |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music, Entertainment |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Founder | Sølvi Wang, Egil Monn-Iversen |
| Defunct | 1964 |
| Headquarters | Oslo , Norway |
Area served | Norway, Sweden, Denmark, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Belgium, United States, Germany, Iceland, Gaza, Egypt |
Key people | Sølvi Wang, Egil Monn-Iversen, Fredrik Conradi, Arne Bendiksen, Per Asplin, Oddvar Sanne, Nora Brockstedt, Johnny Brudvik (substitute), Erik Diesen (lyricist) |
| Products | Jazz and pop music recordings, live performances, films |
Number of employees | Approximately 6 (core members) |
The Monn Keys was a Norwegian vocal ensemble active between 1948 and 1964. Established by Sølvi Wang and Egil Monn-Iversen, the group achieved widespread recognition in Norway through their jazz and pop performances, becoming one of the nation’s leading entertainment acts and the first Norwegian pop group to gain international export status.
The lineup featured Sølvi Wang, Fredrik Conradi, Arne Bendiksen, Per Asplin, Oddvar Sanne, and Nora Brockstedt, with Johnny Brudvik serving as a substitute member. Their regular lyricist was Erik Diesen, who also played a key role in naming the ensemble. Over their career, they produced more than 72 recordings.
Enjoying popularity across Norway, Sweden, and Denmark, The Monn Keys also performed abroad in countries including the United Kingdom, the Netherlands, Belgium, the United States, Germany, Iceland, and entertained UN troops stationed in Gaza and Egypt. With the introduction of NRK television broadcasts in the early 1960s, they became a cornerstone of Norwegian popular entertainment. Their film appearances included titles such as Operasjon Løvsprett, Operasjon Sjøsprøyt, and Brudebuketten.
History
The origin of The Monn Keys traces back to Hegdehaugen school in Oslo where Monn-Iversen and Wang combined their musical talents to transform an amateur quintet initially formed by Wang into a professional vocal group inspired by American ensembles. Their early performances took place in school revues before adopting the name The Monn Keys.[1]
Their first recording came in 1951 under the Musica label, featuring principal members like Sølvi Wang and Per Asplin. The debut record included Vel møtt igjen, which contained a Norwegian rendition of Auf Wiedersehen, auf wiedersehen alongside original compositions such as En krone pr. kyss. The 1954 track Hei hå nå er det jul igjen, penned by Asplin, became an enduring seasonal favorite.
In 1954, they secured a steady engagement at Oslo’s Chat Noir theater. Following Fredrik Conradi’s departure for a corporate career at Esso, Arne Bendiksen joined the group. Egil Monn-Iversen assumed the role of permanent conductor at Chat Noir. The ensemble attracted notable international figures; jazz icons Ella Fitzgerald and Dizzy Gillespie were among their audience. In 1956, Nora Brockstedt left to pursue a solo path.
By 1957, they established Egil Monn-Iversen A/S with four members plus Monn-Iversen himself and launched their own record label, Triola. This marked a shift from their previous affiliations with Musica and RCA Victor after producing over forty recordings. Their reach grew through radio shows like Slagerparaden and Det ligger i luften, including broadcasts on Radio Luxembourg. When Monn-Iversen became director of Chat Noir in 1959, The Monn Keys maintained a prominent presence until his exit in 1963.
From 1958 to 1963, approximately 20 singles and 15 EPs were released on Triola by The Monn Keys. They gained exposure throughout the Nordic region via television programs such as Slagerparaden (1960) and Prospektkortet (1963) broadcast on Nordvisionen. Their Swedish-language EP reached number one for three consecutive weeks in 1961.
As trailblazers for Norwegian pop’s international outreach, they toured beyond Scandinavia and issued LPs including Dreamsville (US release, 1960) and Here Are The Monn Keys (European release, 1961). The album Dreamsville, recorded with American session musicians under conductor Allyn Ferguson, represented Norway’s inaugural pop export to the United States and garnered favorable critical reception. This work later influenced San Francisco’s LGBTQ community during the 1990s. Additionally, they released a US single featuring the tracks Early Bird and Wedding Day.
Their cinematic achievements culminated with the film Operasjon Løvsprett (1962), which showcased their hit «Stakkars store sterke karer», remaining on the VG-lista charts for nine weeks. A sequel followed in 1964 shortly before the group disbanded that same year. Former members went on to hold significant roles within Norwegian cultural life. The Monn Keys also provided vocals for short films directed by Ivo Caprino.
While not Norway’s inaugural vocal ensemble, The Monn Keys distinguished themselves through musical sophistication, comedic revue elements, and standout soloists—setting a standard that influenced later groups such as Dizzie Tunes, Gitarkameratene, and Ylvis.
Selected discography
- 2003 – Assortert
- 1968 – Nå er det jul igjen (RCA)
- 1963 – The Monn Keys (Triola)
- 1961 – Here Are The Monn Keys (Warner Bros.) (US release)
- 1961 – Å! Maria! jag vill hem!
- 1961 – Stackars stora starka karlar
- 1961 – The Monn Keys synger Prøysen
- 1961 – Åh, Marie jeg vil hjem til deg (Triola)
- 1961 – Sucu Sucu (Triola)
- 1960 – Dreamsville (Omega) (US release)
- 1960 – Lyssna bara till ditt unga hjärta
- 1959 – En glad calypso om våren (Triola)
- 1958 – Tulipaner fra Amsterdam (Triola)
- 1954 – Hei hå nå er det jul igjen (Musica)
- 1951 – Vel møtt igjen (Musica)
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