Olle from Laughtersville
His given name was Hjalmar Peterson, and he was born in the Swedish province of Värmland.
Arriving in the United States in 1906, he eventually settled in Minneapolis. At first Peterson worked as a bricklayer in the new country, but before long he embarked on a career as professional entertainer.
In 1909 he returned to Sweden as a member of The Swedish-American Quartet, and during its two-year tour he gathered the songs, stories and jokes he would later use as a solo performer.
More information and songs