Samuli Putro, the longtime frontman of the Finnish rock band <a href="spotify:artist:13l03qv7mpBV432l5t8fpq">Zen Café</a>, with whom he experienced years of chart-topping success, is a singer/songwriter who made his blockbuster solo album debut in 2009. Born on August 21, 1970, in Helsinki, he co-founded <a href="spotify:artist:13l03qv7mpBV432l5t8fpq">Zen Café</a> in 1992. The band includes Kari Nylander (bass) and <a href="spotify:artist:7zX44fpv6srJt3HfBv0GCn">Pete Parkkonen</a> (drums), in addition to Putro (vocals, guitar). <a href="spotify:artist:13l03qv7mpBV432l5t8fpq">Zen Café</a> made their album debut in 1997 with Romuna. Subsequent albums include Idiootti (1998), Ua Ua (1999), and Helvetisti Järkeä (2001). <a href="spotify:artist:13l03qv7mpBV432l5t8fpq">Zen Café</a> then hit number one with each of their next three albums, Helvetisti Järkeä (2001), Vuokralainen (2002), and Jättiläinen (2003); moreover, these albums include the Top Ten hit singles "Aamuisin," "Piha Ilman Sadettajaa," and "Tavallaan Jokainen On Surullinen." The latter-day albums Laiska, Tyhmä Ja Saamaton (2005) and Stop (2006) were similarly successful, hitting number two and one, respectively. Well known for his longtime frontman status in <a href="spotify:artist:13l03qv7mpBV432l5t8fpq">Zen Café</a>, Putro made his blockbuster solo album debut in 2009 with Elämä On Juhla. Yet another in a long line of chart-topping albums for Putro, Elämä On Juhla includes the singles "Elämä On Juhla," "Älä Huuda Mulle," and "Mitäpä Jos." ~ Jason Birchmeier
