Joonas Kokkonen was born on November 13, 1921 in Iisalmi, Finland. He was a composer, known for Suomalaisen musiikin maaperä (1978), Kirkko pohjoisessa (1970) and Empire Helsingissä (1972). He was married to Else-Maj (Maija) Heljo and Maire Sisko Mäkinen. He died on October 2, 1996 in Järvenpää, Finland.