Gummi, having taken a business pathway, leading businesses in Europe, China, Australia and Papua New Guinea, was attracted to music from an early age.

The Icelandic radio had a program on Saturdays where relatives of fishermen could send them messages and songs to listen to. This was a time where the family gathered around the radio and listened to Icelandic and international songs. He just loved these Saturday mornings and keenly remembers being 5 or 6 years old at Haaleitsbraut, his parents doing the weekly cleaning and Michelle by the Beatles being played on the radio. Gummi was hooked!

A decision to move from a listener to a guitar player changed in early 1972. Neil Young released the Harvest album, which included great songs like Harvest and Heart of Gold. Upon hearing this album, Gummi was determined to learn the guitar and the money he earned during that summer holiday was used to buy a 12 string Hagstrum guitar, which inflicted many blisters on Gummi's fingers and frustration, not only to him, but all those unfortunate enough to hear him battle the equipment.

In 1976 an Icelandic group, Mannakorn, lead by an Icelandic music legend, Magnus Eiriksson released its first record and everything changed. New chords were learned in order to being able to play his captivating melodies and learning his lyrics was fun as they told meaningful stories in a unique and often humorous way.

Around 1977 Gummi became part of an Icelandic folk group Tritiltoppakvartettinn and later had a song (Má ég þig keyra) selected as one of ten songs competing in the Icelandic Song Contest in 1991. In late 2015, Gummi went to learn the basics of Gypsy Jazz from Jonny Hephir in Margate, England that along with his Ukulele passion was the spark needed to get these recordings underway and the Baguette Bistro Band formed.

Java Jive

The Baguette Bistro Band