He is one of the most respected pedal steel guitarists in Finland, and he has worked as a session musician for numerous Finnish artists.

[1] Haavisto's first band was Vanha Isäntä, founded in 1973, which the same year won the Finnish championship of pop bands, playing an entirely acoustic set, mainly traditional songs from the British Isles.

[1] Haavisto bought his first pedal steel guitar in 1976, and played a session with it no less than a fortnight later.

The song was called “Äidin ihmekauha” (“The Wonderful Soupstone”, written by Shel Silverstein), sung by Aimo Jaara, with Finnish lyrics by Jukka Virtanen.

The musicians on the latter album include e.g. Pepe Ahlqvist, Jukka Gustavson, Seppo Sillanpää, Timo Kämäräinen, Verneri Pohjola, Tuomo Prättälä, and of course, his younger brother Janne Haavisto.