Urmas Alender

Who was Urmas Alender?

Urmas Alender was an Estonian singer and musician who is possibly best recalled as the vocalist of such popular Estonian bands as Ruja and Propeller.

Born in Tallinn, Estonia, Alender began his musical career in the rock band Shades in 1969 but departed the following year to become the vocalist for Andromeeda.

In 1971, Alender fronted the progressive rock band Ruja with pianist Rein Rannap. The band was influenced by such Western acts as Genesis, Yes, Emerson, Lake & Palmer and King Crimson and often incorporated the poetry of Estonian writers Juhan Viiding and Ott Arder into the lyrics. The band were one of the first nationally commercially successful rock bands to perform in their native Estonian language. Alender would remain with the band until its demise in 1988.

From 1979 until 1980, Urmas Alender also fronted the Estonian punk rock band Propeller. Other bands Alender performed with were Teravik, Data, and in 1983, he briefly played in an outfit called Kaseke.

In 1987, Alender appeared in the Estonian rockumentary Pingul keel alongside such other popular Estonian musicians as Tõnis Mägi, Ivo Linna and Anne Veski.