Erzsi Kovács

Erzsébet "Erzsi" Kovács DRH (2 June 1928 – 6 April 2014) was a Hungarian pop singer and performer. She recorded her last album, Mosolyogva búcsúzom (English title: I Leave with a Smile), aged 79. She was awarded the Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary.

In 1949, at age 21, Kovács met and fell in love with football player Sándor Szűcs. As both were already married at that time, there was no possibility of being together and they tried to escape to the West. An undercover agent betrayed them and their defection attempt failed. In 1951, she was sentenced to four years in prison. Szűcs did not ask for mercy, and, despite interventions by Ferenc Puskás and Ferenc Szusza, he was executed.

Kovács was released from prison in 1954, and at first she worked as an administrator, then resumed her singing career. She toured with Lehel Németh and the Holéczy music group. Her first major success was with the song "Régi óra halkan jár" ("The Old Clock Ticks Softly") in 1957, but she already had a platinum record in 1955, with two and a half million of her records sold. In 1964, her record company dropped her, and she moved abroad. For the next 14 years, she sang in Germany, Sweden, and on cruise ships. After her return, she toured mainly in the countryside. She had several concerts at the Royal Park Stage, the Budapest Concert Hall and the Operetta Theatre in Budapest. On her album, Mosolyogva búcsúzom, she sang "Quand S'arrêtent les violons".

She died after a long illness on 6 April 2014 at the age of 85.

Albums

• Tűzpiros virág (1985) (Fiery Red Flower)
• Csavargó fantáziám (1989) (My Wandering Imagination)
• Gondolj néha rám (1989) (Think of Me Sometimes)
• Búcsúzni csak nagyon szépen szabad (1992) (Be Very Nice when Saying Goodbye)
• Hangulatban (1999) (In the Mood)
• Duett (duet album with Nelly Orosz) (2005)
• Donát úton nyílnak már az orgonák (2006) (Lilacs Are Blooming on Donát Street)
• Mosolyogva búcsúzom (2009) (I Leave with a Smile)

Compilations

• Legkedvesebb dalaim (1997) (Best of)
• Slágermúzeum (2012) (Song Museum)

Singles

• 1960 "Veled is megtörténhet egyszer" / "Megszerettelek"
• 1960 "Szeretlek Budapest" / "Rejtély"
• 1962 "Ha könnyezni látom a két szemed" / "Bámulom az eget"
• 1964 "Szóba sem jöhet más tánc" / "Kék öböl"
• 1964 "Hová tűnt a sok virág" / "Ki emlékszik rá"