Anni-Frid Synni Lyngstad was born in Ballengen, Norway November 15, 1945.

Her mother, Synni was only 18 when she met a handsome German soldier named Alfred Haase.

They had to keep their relationship secret because it was frowned on to have anything to do with the Germans at the time.

When Alfred had to leave he promised to come back for Synni, but he never did. It was rumored that his ship had sunk going back to Germany. Unknown to Synni was the fact

that Alfred was already married and had a young daughter. But it turned out he left Synni pregnant too.

Synni was scorned by the people in her town. Liasons with the Germans were considered traitorous.. Nobody would speak to her.

She gave birth to her daughter and soon realized her daughter would recieve no better treatment being the daughter of a German soldier.

So she convinced her mother Agny to take her 18 month old daughter to Sweden and start a new life and soon she would join them. It didn't take long before Synni went to Sweden also.

In August 1947 Agny, Synni and Anni-Frid move to an apartment in Malmköping, 45 miles from Stockholm. But on Sept. 19 Synni became ill and went into the hospital. She had a complete failure of her kidneys and on Sept. 28 she died. Frida was not even 2 years old yet.

Agny did her best to raise her granddaughter by working as a seamstress. She taught

Anni-Frid many things such as sewing, homemaking, and how to be independant and

strong. She also instilled in her a love for music. She would often sing to Anni-Frid.

At age 9 she was the Princess during the Childrens Day Festiva in Torshälla

She was considered a quiet child. She sang at school in the choir and sometimes

was the soloist. She learned to play the piano at 10. In 1956 she sang in public

for the first time at a Red Cross charity event wearing a Norweigian outfit made

At 13 she was singing in a band, Evald Ek Quintet. She had to say she was 16 to

do it though.This is also when she began going by Frida instead of Anni-Frid.

Music was such a comfort to Frida, who had such a insecure and unfair begining in life.

In 1961 the band broke up and she went on to sing with Bengt Sandlunds Big Band

starting Oct. 7, 1961. One member of the band caught her eye. His name was

Ragnar Fredriksson and he couldn't have been nicer.

He was 4 years older than her and he offered her stability and love.

"I think it was security I was looking for, above all. My childhood wasn't

especially secure. It had lacked gentleness and love...I built my whole life around him"

In the middle of 1962 Frida became pregnant. January 26, 1963 she gave birth to

Hans Ragnar Fredriksson. She was 17 years old. Frida continued with the band, not

wanting to become a housewife. Agny babysat when needed. Frida became well known

as a singer around Eskilstuna. She sang mostly Evergreens and Glen Miller songs.

Frida took singing lessons for 4 years and entered every song contest she could.

April 3, 1964 Frida and Ragnar married. Soon they joined friend Gunnar Sandevärn, along

with Ragnars brother Lennart in the Gunnar Sandevärn Orchestra. There were only the 4 of them.

(above) Frida, Gunnar, Lennart and Ragnar in 1964

Frida was very serious about her music. She would be a housewife and mother but her joy was singing.

February 26, 1967 Frida gave birth to Ann Lise-Lotte Fredriksson.

She and Ragar got together with 2 new musicians, Conny Lindholm and Agny Andersson,

and formed the Anni-Frid 4. But she was becoming disillusioned with dance band singing.

She wanted something different. She still entered song contests hoping one

Sept. 3, 1967 Frida enters a song contest held at Skansen singing "En ledig dag" and wins.

That evening she appeared on a TV show with Lennart Hyland. The next day she signed

her first recording contract with EMI. By the 11th she was in the recording

studio recording her first single "En Ledig Dag."

She appeared on a TV show called Studio 8 with Agnetha Fältskog on Jan. 6 1968.

She also recorded Du Ar Sa Underbart Rar and Peter, Kom Tillbaka

Unfortunatly, the song never made it to the charts. She went on to do 9 more single records for EMI.

In 1968 popular singer Lasse Lönnedahl asked her to tour with him in the

Ragnar encouraged her, telling her she was very good and now

But Frida was also realizing that while she felt great affection for

It was a wonderful friendship, something very special, but not love.

In 1969 she was offered to tour with Charlie Normans show. But that would

mean time away from the family. Ragnar and Frida talked and agreed that

But she was worried about 6 year old Hans and almost 2 year old Lotte.

She was not going to be available for them much if she pursued her career. She was pulled 2 ways.

The decision came when they both agreed the children would be better off living with their father.

Frida moved to Stockholm. A new life begins for the 23 year old Frida.

Anni-Frid was having trouble getting enough sleep during this time. She was trying to balance a career with being

This left her with only a few hours at night to sleep before the children woke up to start their day. (info from Bright Light's Dark Shadows)