- He received a cantor-organist degree, and later, a diploma in singing at the Sibelius Academy, at the age of 41. In the intervening time, he sang in the Finnish Opera chorus and played supporting roles in movies.
- From 1950 to 1974, he was the cantor-organist of a rural church. He was also a choirmaster and singing teacher.
- During the Winter War of 1939 between Finland and the Soviet Union, he served as a messenger between the front-line troops and headquarters. Soviet paratroopers who had been dropped into the area waited in hiding in the treetops. His fellow soldier was shot next to him. Kekkonen, fearing the same fate, decided to sing something in Russian -- Lenski's aria from Tchaikovsky's opera "Eugene Onegin". The snipers spared him.
- He celebrated his 100th birthday, and the distinction of being the world's oldest still-performing tenor. He lives with his wife in Jyvaskyla, Finland. He sings at Christmas and at Midsummer celebrations. (February 2009)
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