Biography
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Born
3 November 1899
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Born In
Budapest, Hungary
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Died
11 January 1968 (aged 68)
Rezső Seress (* 3 November 1899 - 11 January 1968) was a Hungarian pianist and composer.
He taught himself to play the piano, and composed the song Szomorú Vasárnap (Gloomy Sunday), which gained infamy as it became associated with a spate of suicides. Many American and European radio services found it too depressing for broadcast (though it is unclear how much of this is fact and how much is urban legend). Probably the best known version of the song Gloomy Sunday in English was sung by Billie Holiday.
Rezső Seress committed suicide in Budapest in January, 1968, by jumping out of a window. The song was originally written when the author broke up with his girlfriend. After the song became popular, they got together briefly, but then she committed suicide by poisoning and left only a two-word suicide note that said simply "Gloomy Sunday."
In Budapest, the restaurant Kispipa Vendéglő is still there today, and the pianist continues the tradition of playing the song.
see the tag radio Gloomy Sunday fm
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