For more than 20 years, Dove Award-winning recording artist Solveig Leithaug (Sol-vey Light-houg) Henderson has won audiences worldwide with her soothing voice, remarkable guitar playing and songwriting talents. Her latest international release;” Worship You”, produced by Tore W. Aas, with eleven original songs, was released on Authentic Records (former WORD UK).
Authentic Records dubs her release as “in vogue, and long awaited”. An original member of the Oslo Gospel Choir, (with over one million sold CDs,) she’s been a staple on the Scandinavian gospel scene and performed throughout Europe and the USA since her late teens. In 1984, at the tender age of 18, she was awarded the title Artist of the Year by the music magazine “Treff”, and at 20, Solveig received the Dove Award as “International Artist of the Year” by the Gospel Music Association in Nashville, TN.
Solveig was recently the recipient of two more prestigous awards; the 2008 Angel Award, and the 2008 Angel Award for her music video featuring the CD's opening cut, "All the Way to Heaven", produced by award winning producers Dan & Raven Rubottom with Epiphany Creative.(David Crowder Band, Third Day, Jaci Valesquez etc.)
She has recorded two new CDs in 2008, her first Christmas CD in both Norwegian and English, produced by Steve Hindalong (Sixpense None the Richer, Jeremy Camp, The Choir, City on a Hill- Worship Series). The CDs feature a collection of 12 of todays favorite Christmas carols, and was recorded in Nashville, TN with the help of the fine talents of Tom Howard (who wrote & conducted the orchestra string arrangements), Ken Lewis (drums and precussion), Chris Donohue (bass, double bass, currently in Emmylou Harris' band), Phil Madeira (Accordion, National Steel Guitar, Hammond B3 organ, also in Emmylou Harris' band), Paul Moak (Electric guitars, El. Mando, Banjo, Lap Steel), Steve Hindalong (Percussion, Chimes), Sam Levine (Flutes, Clarinett, Recorder) and Mark Byrd (Ambient Guitars). Derri Daughterty, (Engineer) and Dave Schober (Mix) lend their great talents to ensure the quality of sound. Jim Chaffee with Chaffee Management Group is the Executive Producer and A & R for these productions. Mudi Records of Norway along with Cross Event are assisting Solveig with the Scandinavian distribution and Christmas tour, December 1-18, 2008.
The English version of the Christmas CD will be available as a pre-release online at our gift shop by November 1, and will be officially released internationally in 2009.
Solveig contitues to lead worship for such as gospel singer Lynda Randle's ladies conference; "Woman after Gods Own Heart", in Liberty, MO where Gloria Gaither is the speaker, October 10-11, 2008. She was the appointed worship leader for Billy Graham's daughter Anne Graham Lotz` “Just Give Me Jesus” on May, 2007 in Oslo’s Spektrum, dubbed as "a historic event" by the media, and the largest gathering of women in that nation ever. Also at the same venue, she lead worship during "Azusa Europe"; The Pentecostal Centenniel Celebration, at a week's gathering of thousands of Europeans, in September of 2007, and again with the Gaither Homecoming Friends in March, 2008.
From being a guest artist at official parliament functions, to doing worship services from prisons to jazz cafés, cathedrals and arenas, she seeks to make music that heals, inspires and uplifts.
Remarkable stories of her music’s effect on people of all walks include traumatized children and adults being able to sleep, and physical and emotional healings taking place have been reported by numerous through the years. An ordained minister since 1994, she has contributed commentary to Thomas Nelsons “Women of Destiny Bible”.
She has released six solo projects in English, and seven in her native Norwegian, in addition to three bestselling children’s albums and contributing lead vocals to numerous compilations. Her Norwegian CD, Fagert er Landet, produced by Stein Austrud, was released in Scandinavia in May, 2006, featuring some of her favorite hymns and songs in a roots/ Americana sound, going back to her roots of growing up in Norway, in honor of her parents Peder and Helga Leithaug, who at 80 and 77 years of age, guest the album with two moving duet performances. This CD will be re-released in November, 2008, with the bonus track "Give Me Jesus".
Upon artists Russ Taff and Lynda Randle's recommendation, the legendary Bill Gaither invited Solveig to occationally join his Homecoming Tour, and on the Alaskan Cruise in the summer of 2007, the same week of the release of DVD taping live from the Grand Ole Opry; "How Great Thou Art" where Solveig is featured with her own rendition of "Leaning on the Everlasting Arms". The DVDs are now in stores everywhere.
Solveig's song "Army of Compassion" was included in August, 2007 on a CD/DVD-set, "Songs of Justice & Mercy", to mark the 25 year anniversary of compassion ministry World Vision. She is here in the fine company of some of the world's most best-known Christian artists, such as Hillsong United, Matt Redman, Delirious?, Robin Mark,Vineyard UK, The Longing, Andy Bromley and Worship Africa. The CD was released in Europe in August, 2007 by Authentic Records.
Besides her two "home lands"; Norway and the USA, she has performed in nations such as Albania, South Africa, Malaysia, Brazil, Germany, Poland, Holland, Monaco, Finland, Austria, The United Kingdom, Canada, Sweden, Denmark and Switzerland.
Solveig was born on Frekhaug, Norway in 1966. She serves as president for Heart Strings Int'l, a non profit ministry, formerly known as Soldiers for Jesus. Solveig counts it her greatest joy to be the mother of David Levi, Kari Julianna and John Markus. They make their home in Colorado Springs, CO.
