Sadly, it has been reported that Tarmo Leinatamm has passed away at the age of 57 after suffering from cancer. An accomplished Eurovision conductor for his native Estonia, he also represented his country at the Eurovision Song Contest contest of 2008 as a member of Kreisiraadio.
Born in Keila, Estonia on 2nd September, 1957, Tarmo Leinatamm was a distinguished conductor, comedian, entertainer and politician. He graduated from the Tallinn State Conservatory in 1981, where he progressed to an extraordinary musical career. He was initially choir master and conductor at the Vanemuine Theatre in Tartu, overseeing more than 30 big name productions, encompassing ballets, operas and musical theatre.
From the years of 1991 to 1994, Tarmo Leinatamm was the conductor for the Estonian National Opera before working as director of the Tallinn Philharmonic Orchestra between 1994 and 1999.
Tarmo Leinatamm also conducted the orchestra for the Estonian Eurovision Song Contest entries of 1996 and 1997. Kaelakee hääl, performed by Maarja-Liis Ilus and Ivo Linna, finished in fifth place at the grand final of the 1996 contest, with Keelatud maa, again performed by Maarja-Liis Ilus, finishing in eighth place at the grand final of the 1997 contest. Tarmo Leinatamm received a special prize at this time for his performance as a Eurovision Song Contest conductor.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBDn4WTCeSg
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oKXfhzBgH8
Tarmo Leinatamm returned to Eurovision at the Belgrade-hosted contest of 2008 as part of the popular comedy sketch trio Kreisiraadio. Their entry Leto svet finished in 18th place in the first semi-final of the Eurovision Song Contest of that year.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ew5KlYs0e_k
Tarmo Leinatamm was a Member of the Estonian Parliament between 2003-2007 and 2011-2014. A respectful silence was paid to him at the beginning of the opening session of Parliament this morning (Tuesday 14th October 2014).
Leinatamm was married and a father to two children.
We at esctoday.com would like to express our deepest condolences to all those who knew and loved Tarmo Leinatamm.
