Béla Szakcsi Lakatos

Béla Szakcsi Lakatos
Born8 July 1943 (1943-07-08)
Budapest, Hungary
Died2 October 2022 (2022-10-03) (aged 79)
Budapest, Hungary
OccupationPianist

Béla Szakcsi Lakatos (8 July 1943 – 2 October 2022), also known by the mononyms Szakcsi or Sa-Chi,[1] was a Hungarian jazz pianist, keyboardist, arranger and composer.

Life and career

Born in Budapest, Szakcsi Lakatos studied at the Béla Bartók Conservatory [hu] and started his professional career in the mid-sixties.[2] In the 1970s he was part of the Aladár Pege’s quartet, with whom he performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival to great critical acclaim.[1] Later he was part of the bands Rákfogó and Saturnus, as well as leader of his own ensemble.[2] He recorded 16 albums and composed several musicals.[2]

Szakcsi is regarded as a key figure in promoting the jazz and fusion genres in Hungary.[2] During his career he received numerous honours and accolades, including the Kossuth Prize and the title of Meritorius Artist of Hungary [hu].[2][3] He died on 2 October 2022, at the age of 79.[2][3]

References

  1. ^ a b Szakcsi Lakatos, Béla. The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. Oxford University Press, 2002. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0
  2. ^ a b c d e f Fencsik, Tamas (2 October 2022). "Elhunyt Szakcsi Lakatos Béla, világhírű zongorista és zeneszerző". Euronews (in Hungarian). Retrieved 12 October 2022.
  3. ^ a b "Legendary Jazz Pianist Béla Szakcsi Lakatos Dies". Hungary Today. 3 October 2022. Retrieved 12 October 2022.