Ólafur Gaukur

Ólafur Gaukur Þórhallsson was a guitarist, composer, arranger, bandleader, and teacher who played an important part in the development of popular and jazz music in Iceland. He began as an instrumentalist, worked briefly in journalism, and then returned to music as his main profession. Across his career he composed, arranged, led groups, and contributed to recordings and publishing.

He was also a teacher, founding Ólafur Gaukur’s Guitar School in 1975 and running it for the rest of his life. Jazz remained central to his work, and in 2002 he released 2 jazz gítarar with Jón Páll Bjarnason. His work as both a performer and educator links several generations of Icelandic guitarists.