Pál Szécsi
Encyclopedia
Pál Szécsi was a Hungarian singer, arguably one of the most popular of all times, achieving unprecedenced cult status during his lifetime.
. His father Ferenc Szécsi, a professor of linguistics, was shot in the last months of World War II
. His mother gave one-year-old Szécsi and his two siblings to foster parents, and during the Revolution of 1956, fled the country for the USA through Austria
. She traveled with Szécsi's older sister until the train station of Vienna
, but she left her there, eventually leaving Kati and Pál in Hungary. These events later resulted in serious psychological illness and nerve problems for Szécsi as he grew up.
The orphaned boy was taken into state care, where he remained until age 16. After leaving, he worked as a laborer at several places, until at a workplace meeting, his engaging style and motion were taken notice of by the assembled members. Inspired by this, Szécsi became a model and quickly became quite successful. At New Year's Eve, 1965 he took part in a fashion show organized in Hotel Gellért
. After the event, he went into the hotel bar and sang three songs. Soon afterward, through the efforts of one of the patrons of the bar, Szécsi was introduced to Júlia Benk who would become his singing teacher and under whose tutelage Szécsi would begin his professional career. In consulting Benk, László Bánki (a talent-scout working at the National Television
in search of young talent for the upcoming Táncdalfesztivál
) was recommended Benk's favorite student, Szécsi. Invited to perform at the festival, Szécsi sang Csak egy tánc volt at the show and this performance lifted him into immediate popularity, becoming a household name in the country.
His success was further established through his creation of covers for Italian pop songs like Sergio Endrigo
's L' arca di Noe which became Kósza szél. Trying to gain international fame, Szécsi also produced an album released in Germany under the name Paul Moro, but it was unsuccessful. Szécsi's growing domestic popularity was increasingly harder to bear for the mentally fragile singer, and this coupled with severe alcoholism and several failures in private life - including the suicide of one of his loves, actress Edit Domján - led to Szécsi becoming more and more closed off from the outer world. He attempted suicide eight times, but always asked for help at the last minute. His ninth attempt in 30 April 1974, was successful. Szécsi was 30 years old. He was buried in the Farkasréti Cemetery
in Budapest. His burial turned into a hysterical scandal with hundreds of fans, maddened by the pain of loss, trying to rush to his catafalque.
Biography
Pál Szécsi was born on 19 March 1944 in BudapestBudapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
. His father Ferenc Szécsi, a professor of linguistics, was shot in the last months of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. His mother gave one-year-old Szécsi and his two siblings to foster parents, and during the Revolution of 1956, fled the country for the USA through Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
. She traveled with Szécsi's older sister until the train station of Vienna
Vienna
Vienna is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Austria and one of the nine states of Austria. Vienna is Austria's primary city, with a population of about 1.723 million , and is by far the largest city in Austria, as well as its cultural, economic, and political centre...
, but she left her there, eventually leaving Kati and Pál in Hungary. These events later resulted in serious psychological illness and nerve problems for Szécsi as he grew up.
The orphaned boy was taken into state care, where he remained until age 16. After leaving, he worked as a laborer at several places, until at a workplace meeting, his engaging style and motion were taken notice of by the assembled members. Inspired by this, Szécsi became a model and quickly became quite successful. At New Year's Eve, 1965 he took part in a fashion show organized in Hotel Gellért
Hotel Gellért
Hotel Gellért is a famous, first class four star hotel in Budapest, Hungary. The hotel was erected on the right bank of the river Danube between 1916 and 1918 in the Art Nouveau style with some biomorphic elements, at the foot of Gellért Hill, next to Szabadság Bridge.The four star Danubius Hotel...
. After the event, he went into the hotel bar and sang three songs. Soon afterward, through the efforts of one of the patrons of the bar, Szécsi was introduced to Júlia Benk who would become his singing teacher and under whose tutelage Szécsi would begin his professional career. In consulting Benk, László Bánki (a talent-scout working at the National Television
Magyar Televízió
Magyar Televízió is the Hungarian national public service television company, with three TV channels, called m1 , m2 and m3....
in search of young talent for the upcoming Táncdalfesztivál
Táncdalfesztivál
Táncdalfesztivál was a Hungarian music competition and exhibition show, airing on the National Television from 1966 to 1994. It was the premier chance for young talents to show their skills and become well known in the socialist Hungary...
) was recommended Benk's favorite student, Szécsi. Invited to perform at the festival, Szécsi sang Csak egy tánc volt at the show and this performance lifted him into immediate popularity, becoming a household name in the country.
His success was further established through his creation of covers for Italian pop songs like Sergio Endrigo
Sergio Endrigo
Sergio Endrigo was an Italian singer-songwriter.Born in Pola, Istria, Italy he has been often compared--for style and nature--to authors of the so called "Genoa school" like Gino Paoli, Fabrizio De André, Luigi Tenco, and Bruno Lauzi.He won the Sanremo Music Festival in 1968 with the song...
's L' arca di Noe which became Kósza szél. Trying to gain international fame, Szécsi also produced an album released in Germany under the name Paul Moro, but it was unsuccessful. Szécsi's growing domestic popularity was increasingly harder to bear for the mentally fragile singer, and this coupled with severe alcoholism and several failures in private life - including the suicide of one of his loves, actress Edit Domján - led to Szécsi becoming more and more closed off from the outer world. He attempted suicide eight times, but always asked for help at the last minute. His ninth attempt in 30 April 1974, was successful. Szécsi was 30 years old. He was buried in the Farkasréti Cemetery
Farkasréti Cemetery
Farkasréti Cemetery or Farkasrét Cemetery is one of the most famous cemeteries in Budapest. It was opened in 1894 and is noted for its spectacular sight towards the city ....
in Budapest. His burial turned into a hysterical scandal with hundreds of fans, maddened by the pain of loss, trying to rush to his catafalque.
Legacy
His death shocked the masses of fans, creating legends, myths, and conspiracy theories immediately after his death. The play Szécsi Pál szerelmei was written to his memory, describing his 6 love, framed by 6 suicide attempts, featuring 17 of his songs. The Szécsi Pál award, founded by his relatives is handed out every year starting from 2007.Discography
- Hagyjuk szívem (1971)
- Egy szál harangvirág (1973)
- Violák (1976)
- Felettünk az ég (1983)
- Egy szép régi dal (1985)
- Csak egy tánc volt (compilation) (1988)
- Tárd ki ablakod (compilation) (1989)
- Mint a violák (compilation) (1992)
- Két összeillő ember (compilation) (1992)
- Ha álmodni tudnál (compilation) (2003)