Morten Harket, the legendary singer and lead vocalist of the iconic three-piece synth-pop band A-ha, consisting of two other musicians, guitarist Paul Waaktaar-Savoy and keyboardist Magne Furuholmen, recently made headlines as he shared a heartbreaking health update with his fans.
Best known for his unforgettable voice in the 1985 global hit “Take On Me,” the 65-year-old who has been quietly battling the symptoms for some time revealed that he has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, a progressive neurological disorder that affects movement and coordination which has now taken a significant toll on both his personal and professional lives.
Jan Omdahl, ‘A-ha’s’ biographer, shares the news of Morten Harket’s Parkinson’s diagnosis
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The news was first announced in an article written by Jan Omdahl, the biographer of the Norwegian synth-pop group, and shared on their official website on Wednesday, June 4. Omdahl, who described the singer as a gifted songwriter, solo artist, and devoted family man, opened up about the devastating news that Harket has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s after facing several health challenges in the past few years.
The biographer also noted that even though the singer does not exhibit many of the signs that are common for people battling with Parkinson’s, he is suffering from the disease as much as any other person.
Morten Harket confirms the diagnosis, says he has “accepted” his condition
Confirming the news, Harket revealed that he had been aware of his diagnosis for some time but chose to keep it private, confiding only in a select few close to him. He stated that he has fully come to terms with his condition, making use of a philosophy he learned from his 94-year-old father, who believes in approaching the body’s gradual decline with practicality and resilience by utilizing anything that works rather than engaging in a fruitless search for solutions
The musician also acknowledged that it has been quite challenging trying to balance the use of his medications and the resulting side effects.