Henry Per-Erik Theel, also known by his pseudonym Heikki Hovi, was one of the most prominent Finnish singers during the 1940s and the 1950s, though he continued to perform until the late 1980s. His most famous songs are inclusive of "Syyspihlajan alla", "Liljankukka", "Hiljaa soivat balalaikat" and "Satumaa". Theel has participated in more than five-hundred songs and roles throughout his career. Theel also performed as an actor in at least five films.
Henry Theel was born on November 14, 1917, to a Finnish-Swedish family in Helsinki, but spent his youth in Oulu. The paternal side of his family can be traced back to Belgium. In the beginning singing was only a hobby for Theel, but then in 1942 he made his first recording session featuring the song "Syyspihlajan alla". In the year of 1945, Theel began to perform songs of Toivo Kärki and he had already in 1950 made over two-hundred-fifty recordings. Between 1946-1952 Theel and Kärki toured Finland and at the same time Theel's interpretation and overall performance of "Punainen mylly" became very successful. Theel continued to make recordings in the 1950s, however he was forced to take a longer break when his vocal cords were damaged.