Irmeli Mäkelä-Liikanen, a notable Finnish iskelmä singer, has died on March 15 due to a long-term illness, as confirmed by her spouse Johannes Liikanen to Yle. Born in 1942, Mäkelä began her musical journey at a young age, participating in a local singing competition in Kotka at 15, which led to her early performances and eventually a recording contract in Helsinki.

Mäkelä is well remembered for her hits such as "Virran viemää" and "Liian vähän aikaa". Her contributions to Finnish music also include her appearance in the 1959 film "Iskelmäketju". Besides her music career, she nearly represented Finland in the Eurovision Song Contest, winning the national selection in 1963 with her song "Muistojeni laulu", though unexpectedly the act chosen for Eurovision was Laila Halme.

In addition to her successful iskelmä career, Mäkelä also explored opera, showcasing her versatility as an artist. Her death marks the end of a significant chapter in Finnish music history, highlighting the impact she had on the genre and the cultural landscape of her country.