Kati Kovács

Kati Kovács (born Katalin Anna Sarolta Kovács 25 October 1944), is a Ferenc Liszt and Kossuth Award-winning Hungarian pop and rock singer, performer, lyricist and actress.

Kovacs is known for her raspy and very strong mezzo-soprano singing voice which received wide praise from Hungarian music critics who have called her: "The Best Female Voice of Hungary". She has sung opera, rock, jazz, pop, dance, blues and rock and roll.

Career

She appeared first time on stage in 1962. She became the first famous nationally in 1965 when she won the seminal TV talent show in Hungary Ki mit tud?. A year later, she achieved some even greater successes with her performance of the song "I Won't Be Your Plaything" ("Nem leszek a játékszered") which won the TV Dance Song Festivals in Hungary in 1966.

In 1968 she played the leading roles in some films, for example The Girl.

The psychedelic and spiritual song "Lord Send Us Rain!" ("Add már, uram, az esőt!") won the Hungarian Dance Song Festival and the German Song Contest in 1972.

She worked with the Hungarian rock band Locomotiv GT on three studio albums (Kovács Kati & Locomotiv GT, Közel a naphoz and Kati) and a compilation album (Rock and roller).

In 1974 she won the Castlebar Song Contest in Ireland with the song "Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue" ("Nálad lenni újra jó lenne").

She appeared as a singer in the 1977 Hungarian film The Two of Them (Ők ketten), which was directed by Márta Mészáros.

Since 1979 she sang cover versions of several disco and hit songs in Hungary originally performed by Donna Summer, Barbra Streisand, Laura Branigan, Madonna, Tanita Tikaram, Sam Brown, Anastacia etc.

Besides singing, Kovács also writes lyrics. One of her best known works which she also performed is the lyrics to Vangelis' composition "1492: Conquest of Paradise".

Since 23 October 2009 she works with the psychedelic soul-beat band the Qualitons. They had a very successful concert in Budapest with the singer's rare beat and funk songs. It is said to be Kovács's big comeback. In 2010 they are on tour around the country. They were planning a new album together but they broke up.

American singer-songwriter Christina Aguilera's 2010 single "Woohoo" contains a sample from the song "Add már, uram, az esőt!".

Awards Music Week Star of the Year Award (England) in 1974 Liszt Prize in 1986 Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Knight's Cross in 1994 Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary – Officer's Cross in 2011 Honorary Citizen of Budapest in 2011 Kossuth Prize in 2014

Albums