Hellvin was born in
Oslo. In 1961, still in his teens, he was leading his own band, and with
Lucky Thompson,
Carl Magnus Neumann, and
Jesper Thilo, he attended the 1968
Kongsberg Jazzfestival. He released his debut solo album
Roy Hellvin in 1975. Furthermore, he played with Bernt Anker Steen / Harald Bergersen Quintet, and was a part of 'Radiostorbandet' (1968–81) and collaborated on releases by
Laila Dalseth (1976–80. Hellvin has musical education from the
Norwegian Academy of Music and the
University of Oslo, and has been employee at
Oslo Nye Teater (1976) as musical director and arranger for more than 60 productions. In addition he has collaborated on productions for
Nationaltheatret,
Det norske teatret,
Riksteatret,
Trøndelag Teater,
Rogaland Teater, and
Chat Noir. In the 1980s he played with Per Nyhaug Studioband as well as in lineups with
Frode Thingnæs. He leads his own
Roy Hellvin Trio including
Bjørn Jacobsen (bass) and Leif Osen (drums), releasing the album
Old Friends in 2003). More recently, he has led a quartet with the same Osen, and Terje Johansen (trumpet) and
Kåre Garnes (bass). Hellvin was awarded the 2001
Gammleng-prisen in the category Studio. == Honors ==