Gyllene Tider/Roxette fan becomes a Swedish knight
Written by Lars-Erik_Olson on May 28, 2009 to Awards, Fans and Per Gessle.
NEW YORK - 
Few Gyllene Tider/Roxette fans have been in a position to share their love of Per's music with others as much as Scott Greenstein, who as the Chief Content Officer of Sirius XM, is the one who approached Per with the idea for the program that was later named Nordic Rox. As a result of the success of the show in promoting Swedish music in North America, he was — just last week — awarded the insignia of Knight of the Royal Order of the Polar Star by Ambassador Ulf Hjertonsson, Consul General of Sweden in New York (acting on behalf of the King of Sweden), at a ceremony at the Swedish residence on Park Avenue.
Per, along with his wife Åsa and son Gabriel, were in New York and attended the event along with other guests who included actor and musician Steven Van Zandt (E-Street Band); director Lasse Hallström and actress Lena Olin; guitarist Richie Sambora (Bon Jovi); professional skateboarder Tony Hawk; singer Peter Jöback; Henrik Lundqvist of the New York Rangers; celebrity chef Marcus Samuelsson; and media host Martha Stewart.
With this distinction, Greenstein is recognized for the strides made by the Nordic Rox program in introducing Swedish music and popular culture to American audiences.
"Scott Greenstein has been instrumental in bringing a number of Swedish voices from the world of politics and culture to radio listeners across the U.S.," said Ambassador Hjertonsson. "His personal enthusiasm and professional dedication to Swedish music, in particular, led to the creation of the very popular radio channel Nordic Rox, a veritable gateway for Swedish music in North America."
"Yes, Scott Greenstein is the main man behind [Nordic Rox]," said Per to The Daily Roxette in an interview three years ago. "He is a huge fan (he even knows the "Leva Livet" lyrics by heart) and he approached me about a year ago about this."
Per was last at the Swedish residence in September 2000, when then Consul General Olle Wästberg hosted a reception and buffet dinner for Roxette that was attended by the media and other Swedish celebrities in New York, including Crown Princess Victoria. Roxette was here at that time to promote the release of a U.S. Greatest Hits album, and had performed earlier in the day at the Virgin megastore in Times Square.
Other articles with the same topic
- Fan party in Buenos Aires on Sunday (February 12, 2011)
- Roxette+Canada=true? (February 8, 2011)
- Cape Town sold out (January 26, 2011)
- Happy birthday, Per (January 12, 2011)
- Per tells TDR that he and Marie are "thrilled" with what's to come in 2011 (January 3, 2011)
6 comments
Lars-Erik_Olson (moderator) said on May 29, 2009 03:18:
Peter Jöback, best known to Roxette fans as the man who recorded Per’s “Varmt Igen,” is currently living in New York City. He is expected to reprise his role as the younger brother Robert in the Benny Andersson & Björn Ulvaeus musical “Kristina,” set to be performed this September at Carnegie Hall. Peter has been in many shows, but it is this role that brought him fame in Sweden. The two Carnegie Hall shows will be the first time the show will be performed in English. Peter’s career is managed by d&d, the same firm that manages both Per and Marie.
big-little-girl said on May 29, 2009 09:24:
I hope Mr. “Silvio Dante” (Steven Van Zandt) is a Roxette fan, also! I loved him on “The Sopranos”!
thomasc said on May 29, 2009 12:05:
So, the mentioned Per Concert from London (which I was at!!), will this be the full show?!?
Lars-Erik_Olson (moderator) said on May 29, 2009 03:12:
Unfortunately, due to current economic pressures, this may have been one of the last such receptions at the beautiful Swedish residence, the largest private residence on Park Avenue here in New York City. Unless there is some kind of 11th hour reprieve, the Swedish government has plans to shut down the Swedish consulates in both New York and Los Angeles in the near future in a cost-cutting move, and this would mean there would no longer be a need for this residence that serves as the home of the Swedish Consul General. But with the real estate market in a depressed state, the Swedish government would not get top dollar for the property.