He was born in a musician family on the 13th November 1958 in Budapest, Hungary. His Father was a famous gipsy violinist as well as his younger Brother Roby. The musical study began on the violin at the age of 6. Began to play the saxophone when he was 15 years old, and became a professional musician when he won a national jazz competition in 1977. He graduated from the jazz department of the Bela Bartók Conservatory in Budapest 1979. Shortly after he moved to Germany in 1981, became one of the most respected saxophone player in Germany as well as worldwide. He performed as a saxophone soloist in numerous jazz/pop/rock recordings and concerts. Tony has played the saxophone  about 300 LP/CD recordings as a leader or as a sideman.

From 1985 thru 1996 member of the succesful PILI-PILI Band ( leading by Jasper Van't  Hof )

He has been living in Germany since 1981, Frankfurt am Main since 1993 and working as a soloist in the H. R. Big band - Radio station.  

 

A TV Show / jazz in Concert / was made with him in Zürich, Switzerland in 1991.

Guest musicians:Terri Lyne Carrington  (drums)Anthony Jackson (bass)

 David Whitham (keyboard)  Peter O'Mara  ( guitar )

 

Tony Lakatos was the first Hungarian musician who appeared on the Gavin Report Top Ten in the American Jazz Music Radio with his CDs.

1. 1993 "Recycling"(jazzline) Feat. Kirk Lightsey (piano) and Al Foster (drums) was the seventh best CD.

2. 1994 "The News" (jazzline)Feat. Kirk Lightsey (piano), George Mraz (bass) and Al Foster (drums) won the fourth place.

In 1997 a CD " Generation X " (jazzline) came out with American world star trumpeter Randy Brecker.

He is continually touring in Japan with his own formations, and signed an exclusive contract with SKIP RECORDS in year 2002.

The  CD  “ I get Along with you very well ” ( Skip ) Music of Hoagy Carmichael with George Mraz (Bass) - Adam Nussbaum (Drums) and with the legendary guest singer Jimmy Scott, was recorded in year 2003 in New York

 

The CD  “Gypsy Colours” (Skip) Recorded in 2005 in Budapest, featuring Gypsy origin jazz and folk Musicians.

 

                      “ The Quartett Live in Concert “ DVD

 Feat: Kalman Olah-Piano, Adam Nussbaum-Drums, Ron McClure-Bass,

 Tony Lakatos- Tenor,Sopran-Sax.  Released in a year 2006

 

The recording of Gerschwin‘s “Porgy&Bess“  with the Frankfurt Radio BigBand  won the “Deutsche Schallplatten Preis“ 2009

 

Tony Lakatos has been touring in all countries of Europe, in the USA,Canada, Japan, South Africa, Lebanon,India, Singapore, Indonesia and many other parts of the world.

 

 

 Giving master classes in the Jazz department of:  

 Rotterdam,Amsterdam,Arnheim (Holland),

 Graz, Wien Konservatorium (Austria),

 Fredericksburg Mary Washington Collage (USA),

 Royal Academy of music London (UK) Birmigham Music Depart.( UK)

 Bela Bartok Music academy Budapest (Hungary),

 Yamaha School Hamburg (Germany)

 

Workshops: Remscheid, Erlangen, Darmstadt,Hilden (Germ.),

Langenau (CH)

Ishimori Saxophon Store (Tokyo), Amsterdam wind shop (NL),