Lauri Armas Pihlajamaa, known professionally as Lasse Pihlajamaa, was born on August 1, 1916, in Jämijärvi, Finland. He was a Finnish accordionist, composer, pedagogue, musical advisor, and instrument maker. He learned accordion from his older brothers and received his first diatonic accordion at age 12. Pihlajamaa began his career as a performer with circus artists in Pori before moving to Tampere. His breakthrough came when he started playing trumpet and contrabass in restaurant orchestras and made his radio debut in 1939. During the war years, he collaborated with Eugen Malmstén and composed pieces like Noiduttu hanuri and Tampereen polkka. In 1949, Pihlajamaa moved to Helsinki, where he formed the group Pihlajamaan Pelimannit and worked with Viljo Vesterinen. He founded an accordion school in 1957, which operated until 1972. His contributions were recognized with the title of Asesor Musical (musiikkineuvos) in 1988. Lasse Pihlajamaa passed away on November 14, 2007, in Helsinki.
