Kari Tapani Jalkanen, better known by his stage name Kari Tapio, was a Finnish schlager and country & western singer. During his career, he was the most popular singer in Finland for decades; having sold estimately over a million certified records, he is the best-selling soloist in the country. Kari Tapio was born in Suonenjoki, Finland. In the 1960s he performed in his home town Pieksämäki with the local bands ER-Quartet and Jami & The Noisemakers. In 1966 he took singing lessons from Ture Ara.