- The Individual Musicians:
Agnetha Fältskog, Björn Ulvaeus, Benny Andersson, and Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad were individual performers and songwriters in Sweden before forming ABBA.
- Meeting of Björn and Benny:
Björn Ulvaeus was a member of the folk-rock band "Hootenanny Singers," while Benny Andersson played with "Hep Stars." They met in the late 1960s and started writing songs together.
- Connection with Agnetha:
In 1969, Björn met Agnetha, who had already established herself as a solo artist in Sweden. They became romantically involved and Agnetha began collaborating with Björn and Benny, recording songs together.
- Frida's Arrival:
While working on different projects, Björn and Benny got to know Anni-Frid "Frida" Lyngstad, another successful solo artist in Sweden. She joined Agnetha, Björn, and Benny in the recording studio, contributing vocals to some of their songs.
- Forming ABBA:
Realizing the potential of their musical chemistry, Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Frida officially formed the group ABBA (which was derived from the first letters of their names) in 1972.
- Eurovision Song Contest:
The turning point for ABBA came in 1974 when they entered the Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Waterloo." They won the contest, representing Sweden, and gained international recognition and popularity.
From that moment on, ABBA continued to release hit songs and studio albums, becoming one of the most successful pop groups of all time. Despite going their separate ways in the early 1980s, their music endures and remains widely loved around the world.