Bert Willis Karlsson (born 21 June 1945, in Skövde, Västra Götaland County) is a Swedish record company manager, entrepreneur, former politician (Member of Parliament 1991-1994) and front figure of the New Democracy (Ny Demokrati) party.
As the owner and manager of the record company Mariann Grammofon AB, Karlsson became a familiar face to the Swedish public as the man behind Carola Häggkvist. In 1984 he started Skara Sommarland, a theme park.
In 1991, Karlsson and count Ian Wachtmeister started the populist political party New Democracy. Attracting major media attention, and with a patriotic platform, the party received 6.7 percent of the vote in the parliamentary election in September. With no previous political experience, Karlsson suddenly found himself elected to the Riksdag as a Member of Parliament.
When New Democracy imploded due to internal struggles and failed in the 1994 parliamentary election Karlsson went back to being a full-time businessman. He has started the popular Swedish reality television show Fame Factory, (a programme somewhat similar to the British show Pop Idol), in which he plays an important role. Many Mariann artists have entered Melodifestivalen, the Swedish qualifications for the Eurovision Song Contest. From 1978 to 2005 approximately 120 songs from Karlsson's record company have been competing, and 14 have gone on to represent Sweden in the European Song contest. Mariann artists include Herreys and Charlotte Perrelli, who went on to win the European competition.
In March 2005, Karlsson filled out an application for membership in the Liberal People's Party during a television interview. When the party immediately responded with criticism of him, calling the move a media stunt, he did not go through with his application.
During spring 2007 Karlsson was a judge for a new TV show called "Talang 2007" on TV4, the Swedish version of America's Got Talent. He was also a judge on Talang 2008 and is currently a judge on Talang 2009 the shows third season.
Famous quotes containing the word bert:
“Why don’t you go home to your wife? I’ll tell you what. I’ll go home to your wife and outside of the improvements, you’ll never know the difference. Pull over to the side of the road there and let me see your marriage license.”
—S.J. Perelman, U.S. screenwriter, Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby, and Norman Z. McLeod. Groucho Marx, Horsefeathers, a wisecrack made to Huxley College’s outgoing president (1932)