Born: February 6, 1923 in Wynyard, SK
Folksinger born in Wynyard, Saskatchewan - east of Saskatoon - to Icelandic parents. Studied piano and violin as a child and later studied voice in Winnipeg. After singing country music on radio in Edmonton and in California (as Sagebrush Sam), he moved to Newfoundland in 1955 developing a repertoire of local folk music, some of which he had collected himself.
He adopted a Newfie accent, played a non-traditional style of simplified guitar accompaniment and preferred to sing for local rather than national audiences. However, radio and TV appearances helped popularize Newfoundland songs throughout Canada. His output of Newfie music spanned 8 albums from 1955-1967 and he edited 'Newfoundlanders Sing! A Collection Of Favourite Newfoundland Folk Songs' in 1964.
Singles
Albums
1959 The Roving Newfoundlander (Banff) RBS-1142
Omar's Favourite Folk Songs (Banff) RBS-1172
The Great Seal Hunt of Newfoundland (Banff) RBS-1173
16 Songs of Newfoundland (Banff) RBS-1231
Trade Winds: Omar Blondahl presents The Saga of Newfoundland in Song (Rodeo) RLP 5
Down to the Sea Again: A Selection of Folk Songs of Newfoundland (Rodeo) RLP-7
Songs Children Will Love (split with Diane Oxner) (Rodeo) RLP-23
A Visit to Newfoundland with Omar Blondahl (Rodeo) RLP-34
Favourite Folk Songs (Rodeo) RLP-76
Sealer Songs (Rodeo) RLP-80
Famous Songs of Newfoundland (Canadian Cavalcade) CCLP-2001
1964 Once Again for Newfoundland (Melbourne) AMLP-4007
Sings of Newfoundland (Continental Maple Leaf) CML-1016
Songs of Sea and Shore (Arc) A-537
Favourite Folk Songs (Arc) A-567
Folk Songs From Around the World (Arc) A-591
Video
Compilation Tracks
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