Sarolta Zalatnay | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Charlotte Sacher |
| Born | 14 December 1947 Budapest, Hungary |
| Origin | Hungary |
| Genres | Rock, blues-rock, hard rock, pop rock, beat |
| Occupation(s) | Singer |
| Years active | 1963–present |
Sarolta Zalatnay (born Charlotte Sacher in Budapest, Hungary, [1] 14 December 1947) is a Hungarian singer. She has been noted for a flourishing popular music career under Communism, and evolved from teen pop to rock music. [2]
Zalatnay was born with the name Charlotte Sacher; her family later adopted Hungarian naming conventions and her official name became Zalatnay Sarolta. [2] She appeared on stage for the first time in 1963, using the nickname Cini. In 1966, at age 18, she finished in second place in the Hungarian Television song contest Táncdalfesztivál, with the song "Hol jár az eszem?" ("Where is My Mind Running?"). During this period she worked with the backing bands Bergendy Együttes and Metró. [2] In 1967 she appeared in the contest again and finished in first place with the song "Nem várok holnapig" ("I Am Not Waiting Till Tomorrow"), on which she was accompanied by the Hungarian rock group Omega. [3]
Thanks to the relatively lenient travel restrictions managed by the Communist-era Hungarian government, Zalatnay was able to tour England in 1968–69. While there she became acquainted with the Bee Gees, and had a brief personal relationship with Maurice Gibb. [2] She again won the first prize in the Táncdalfesztivál contest in 1971 with "Fák, virágok, fény" ("Trees, Flowers, Light"). By this time she had moved into rock music, with a singing style that has been compared to that of Janis Joplin; [2] Zalatnay is known to have attended a musical festival featuring Joplin during this period. [4] Furthermore, a vocal cord operation during this period changed the tone of Zalatnay's voice, allowing her to tackle grittier rock songs. [4] She later worked frequently with Metró member Károly Frenreisz, who assisted with songwriting and production. Frenreisz's hard rock-oriented bands Locomotiv GT and Skorpio provided backing for Zalatnay's albums in the early 1970s. [2]
Zalatnay's first full-length album, Ha fiú lehetnék (If I Could Be a Boy), was released in 1970 and featured a cover on which Zalatnay transformed from a teen pop star to an adult rock singer. [4] Her frequent changes of image and attitude during her rock music period have been compared to the similar strategy used later by Madonna. [5] Her 1973 album Hadd mondjam el (Let Me Tell You) received attention from international rock critics. [6] During her most successful musical period, she also performed small roles in several Hungarian films. [7] Later critics and journalists speculated that Zalatnay could have achieved international stardom were it not for the Communist-era restrictions on popular music, notwithstanding the relatively lenient strictures of her native Hungary. [2]
Zalatnay's music career slowed down in the 1980s when Hungarian fans moved on to new genres of Western music. [6] She released the autobiography Nem vagyok én apáca (I’m No Nun) during this period. [5] By the 1990s, she had become a post-Communist political activist in Hungary, as a board member of the Felicity Party and chairman of the Hungarian Animal Protection and Nature Federation. [6]
Zalatnay's music remained relatively unknown outside of Hungary until the release of a self-titled compilation in 2007. The compilation gained the notice of Western rock critics, who were inspired to evaluate Zalatnay's place in rock and pop history. [4] [5] One such reviewer called Zalatnay one of the most important entertainers of her nation and era, noting that her music was impressively varied and often ahead of its time. [1] Another reviewer stated that Zalatnay adapted typical American rock music into the Hungarian milieu, with an acid rock/blues sound and particularly powerful vocals. [8] By this time, Zalatnay's musical career had been largely forgotten in Hungary, and her personal life and appearances on Hungarian reality TV were mostly of interest to local tabloids. [2] The 2007 compilation revived interest in her music and she resumed live performing. In 2017, she returned to the Erkel Theatre in Budapest, the site of her early performances for Táncdalfesztivál, for a seventieth birthday concert. [3]
In 1968 Zalatnay had a short relationship with Maurice Gibb. [2] In 1974 she married Sándor Révész of the Hungarian rock band Piramis but they later divorced. [6] Her second marriage was to László Benedek in 1987, and they had a daughter in 1989. [6] In 1995 she married for the third time, to pornography director Márton Csaba. [6] Csaba persuaded her to pose nude in Playboy at age 53 in 2001. [7] In 2004, she was sentenced to three years in prison for tax fraud. [4] She served 16 months, and was released on parole in 2006. [6]
Omega was a Hungarian rock band formed in 1962, which has been described as the most successful Hungarian band in history. They have released more than 20 albums both in Hungarian and English. After several early personnel changes, their classic lineup came together in 1971 and was intact for more than forty years. Singer János Kóbor was with the band continuously from 1962 until his death in 2021; keyboardist/singer László Benkő was present from 1962 until his death in 2020. Guitarist György Molnár and bassist Tamás Mihály joined in 1967, and drummer Ferenc Debreczeni joined in 1971. Omega won several prestigious awards for their contributions to Hungarian culture.
Beatrice is a Hungarian rock band. It was founded in 1969 as a women's band, and played mostly cover songs. In 1971, Nagy Feró joined the band as a frontman. In the following years, the members were gradually replaced, and from 1974 they began to write their own songs in the then popular glam rock style. In order to get a record deal the band became oriented towards disco music from 1976.
Illés was a Hungarian rock/beat band (1960–1973), and was one of the biggest groups of the 1960s and early 1970s rock boom in Hungary. The band is often compared to the Beatles as regards the time period of its activity, its artistic and cultural influence and continuing popularity.
Ilona Csukáné, known professionally as Friderika Bayer, is a Hungarian singer. She is best known for representing Hungary at the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 with the song "Kinek mondjam el vétkeimet?", placing fourth. This remains Hungary's best-ever result in the contest.
Laurence Jalbert is a pop and rock singer-songwriter from Quebec.
"Piece of My Heart" is a romantic soul song written by Jerry Ragovoy and Bert Berns, originally recorded by Erma Franklin in 1967. Franklin's single peaked in December 1967 at number 10 on the Billboard Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart in the United States.
Locomotiv GT was a Hungarian rock band formed in 1971. Starting out as a progressive rock band, they later experimented with many other styles including jazz, funk, and pop. During their heyday they were one of Hungary's most popular rock bands. The band broke up in 2016 after the death of longtime singer/bassist Tamás Somló.
Magdolna "Magdi" Rúzsa is a Hungarian singer who won the 2006 title of Megasztár ("Megastar"), Hungary's nationwide talent search, that resembles, but is not based on, Pop Idol. As the winner of the category "Newcomer of the Year" at the Fonogram Hungarian Music Awards in 2007, she represented Hungary at the Eurovision Song Contest in Helsinki, Finland with the song "Unsubstantial Blues". She finished ninth and won a Marcel Bezençon Award in the Best Composer category. She often performs songs by her favorite singer, Janis Joplin.
"Kinek mondjam el vétkeimet?" is a song by Hungarian singer Friderika Bayer. Written and composed by Szilveszter Jenei, it represented Hungary in the Eurovision Song Contest 1994 in Dublin. It marked Hungary's debut performance in the contest.
"Ball and Chain" is a blues song written and recorded by American blues artist Big Mama Thornton. Although her recording did not appear on the record charts, the song has become one of Thornton's best-known, largely due to performances and recordings by Janis Joplin.
Locomotiv GT is the debut album of Hungarian rock group Locomotiv GT, released in December 1971.
In 1972 Ringasd el magad, the second album of Hungarian rock group Locomotiv GT was released. Its instrumentation was worked out and rehearsed in Budapest, the album was recorded at MHV Studios also in the Hungarian capital, whereas the running order was put together by the band at a restaurant on Oxford Street, London. Although the style of the band was basically the same, the sound and stylistic diversity of the songs show a considerable progress. While on Locomotiv GT they used electric instruments almost exclusively, the instrumentation of Ringasd el magad is much more complex.
Kati Kovács, is a Ferenc Liszt and Kossuth Award-winning Hungarian pop-rock singer, performer, lyricist and actress.
Éva Mikes was a Hungarian pop singer, who rose to fame during the 1960s.
Szandi, also credited as Sandi in English, is a Hungarian pop singer.
Hungarian pop is the pop music scene of Hungary. It is often associated with Rezső Seress's song "Gloomy Sunday" which was covered by numerous artists. The most notable artists include Zsuzsa Cserháti, Kati Kovács, Zsuzsa Koncz, Judith Szűcs, Péter Máté, Locomotiv GT, Omega, Neoton Família, Karthago, Jimmy Zámbó. Among the new talents are András Kállay-Saunders and Linda Király.
Charlie is a Hungarian rock and soul singer.
Ádám Szabó is a Hungarian singer, musician, and accordionist. He achieved fifth place in the fourth season of X-Faktor, Hungary's version of X-Factor.
Gábor Presser is a Kossuth Prize winning Hungarian musician, composer, singer. He was a band member in Locomotiv GT and Omega, and has been a prominent personality in Hungarian pop and rock music.
Bíborka Bocskor is a Romanian-born Hungarian singer and songwriter. She has been the frontwoman of alternative rock band Magashegyi Underground since 2006.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
