Bernhoft

Norwegian multi-instrumentalist Jarle Bernhoft started his career as an angst-ridden rock frontman before switching his attention to a unique one-man band style of retro soul. Born in Nittedal in 1976, he enjoyed minor success in funk-rock quartet Explicit Lyrics in the '90s, but achieved his commercial breakthrough after teaming up with bandmate Fridtjof Nilsen to co-found Span, who released 2004's Gil Norton-produced Mass Distraction and 2005's Top Ten follow-up Vs. Time before disbanding. After reinventing himself as a classic soul man with 2008 solo debut Ceramik City Chronicles and 2010 live album 1: Man 2: Band, he found worldwide fame in 2011 when he appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show to perform a track from his second LP, Solidarity Breaks, which topped the Norwegian charts for nine weeks in the same year. ~ Jon O'Brien, Rovi