Is better known as a lyricist for over 2000 songs.
Has written several poem collections and novels: two of them, "Siniset
mokkakengät" (Blue Suede Shoes) and "Mikä laulaen tulee" (What Singing
Brings) are based on the lives of famous Finnish singer Irwin Goodman
and Salmi himself.
As a lyrics writer he used secret name "Emil Retee" or "Emil von Retee"
sometimes. He added the "von" after he had written 100 lyrics to Irwin
Goodman
He is an art collector. He collects modern art.
In one point of his life he was really interested in religions of the
world and read many books about different religions.
He criticized Neoliberalism in his columns. He says that today only
money is holy to people.