Neoton Família
| Company type | Pop music group |
|---|---|
| Industry | Music |
| Founded | 1965 in Budapest, Hungary |
| Founder | László Pásztor, Lajos Galácz |
| Defunct | 1990 |
| Headquarters | Budapest , Hungary |
Area served | Hungary, Europe, Latin America, Asia |
Key people | Éva Csepregi, Péter Erdős, László Pásztor, Ádám Végvári |
| Products | Albums, singles, live performances |
Number of employees | Various band members over years |
Neoton Família—also referred to as Newton Family—ranked among Hungary's most prominent pop ensembles, primarily active between 1977 and 1989. Their discography includes numerous albums and singles, and they performed across 25 nations such as Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Cuba, Japan, India, and South Korea. From 1979 through 1989, their record sales surpassed 6 million copies within Hungary and approximately 1.5 million internationally, positioning them second in domestic popularity only to the band Omega.
Band history
Originating in Budapest in 1965, the group was established by economics students László Pásztor and Lajos Galácz to compete in a school music contest. Their initial breakthrough occurred in 1968 after winning the national talent competition Who Knows What? with the song Nekem eddig Bach volt a mindenem, followed by their debut hit single Kell, hogy várj. Their first album, Bolond város (1971), featured musicians who would later join other renowned Hungarian bands. Although this album achieved modest sales, it facilitated an African tour after which several members departed.
Between 1973 and 1977, Neoton worked alongside the female vocal group Kócbabák, culminating in the collaborative album Menedékház (1976). This alliance attracted Péter Erdős from the Hungarian Record Company Pepita, who united both groups under the new name Neoton Família. Their 1977 release Csak a zene initiated tours throughout socialist countries.
Neoton Família gained international recognition at the Midem music festival held in Cannes in 1979. Their album Napraforgó and its English-language counterpart Sunflower were distributed across thirteen countries, producing chart successes in Japan, Denmark, and the Philippines. Singles such as "Santa Maria" and "Lord of the Mountain" achieved international chart placements.
The track "Don Quijote" emerged as their most significant hit—reaching number one in Hungary and Japan and securing top five positions in Spain, Brazil, and the Philippines. The album Marathon became a domestic bestseller and was released in nine countries. Its title song became emblematic during the 1980 Moscow Olympics. That same year, they issued the soundtrack for the Canadian film Yesterday, featuring Éva Csepregi as lead vocalist.
Throughout the early 1980s, Neoton Família found success across the USSR and other socialist nations. The album A família (1981), marketed as Dandelion in Germany, topped charts in Hungary; its single "Kétszázhúsz felett" ("Racing") gained international popularity. This was followed by an extensive Japanese tour comprising 42 cities that autumn. Their 1982 release Szerencsejáték ("Roulette") included the track "Monte Carlo", earning comparisons to ABBA. Additionally, their single "Atra" was featured as part of the soundtrack for the Canadian-French film La Guerre du feu.
By 1983 Éva Csepregi assumed lead vocal duties following the departure of two female members. Alongside Ádám Végvári, she secured the Grand Prix at Tokyo's Yamaha Music Festival with "Times Goes By". Their single "Sandokan" set national sales records and coincided with an extensive Latin American tour.
From 1983 to 1988, Neoton Família consistently released yearly albums involving various composers—enhancing their creative output but also generating internal conflicts. In 1986 they were honored with the Most Outstanding Performance Award at Seoul's International Song Festival for "Love is magic". In 1988 Éva Csepregi and Leslie Mándoki performed "Korea" during the opening ceremony of the Seoul Summer Olympics.
Following Péter Erdős's passing in 1990, Neoton Família disbanded amid disputes over naming rights; this led to the formation of two separate groups: Új Neoton (1990–1991) under Pásztor's leadership and Éva-Neoton (1990–1993) led by Csepregi.
Éva Csepregi collaborated with Scottish songwriter-producer Bob Heatlie—her partner since 1992—releasing solo albums across Europe and South Korea; these works were later incorporated into Neoton's live performances.
After keyboardist György Jakab succumbed to a terminal illness in 1996, former band members reunited for a tribute concert in 1998. Due to fan enthusiasm, additional shows have been held since 2005 under the name Neoton Família Sztárjai (Stars of Neoton Family).
Members
| Neoton Contributors 1965–1977 |
|
|---|---|
| Neoton Família Contributors 1977–1990 |
|
| Új Neoton Contributors 1990–1991 |
|
| Éva-Neoton Contributors 1991–1992 |
|
| Neoton Família Sztárjai Contributors Since 2005 |
|
Albums
- Bolond város (1971)
- Menedékház (1976)
- Csak a zene (1977)
- Neoton Disco (English release, 1978)
- Napraforgó (1979)
- Sunflower (English edition, 1980)
- Marathon (1980)
- Listen To Me (English edition, 1981)
- A familia (1981)
- Dandelion (English edition, 1981)
- Greatest Hits (English, Japan release, 1981)
- Szerencsejáték (1982)
- Gamble (English edition, 1982)
- Jumping Tour (Japan release, 1982)
- Neoton Família VII. (1983)
- Jumpy Dance (English edition, 1983)
- Aerobic (English radio medley, 1983)
- Karnevál (1984)
- Adam & Eve (English edition, 1984)
- Magánügyek (1985)
- Monotony (English edition, 1985)
- Minek ez a cirkusz? (1986)
- I Love You (English edition, 1986)
- More - Greatest Hits 20 (English, Japan release, 1987)
- Lehet egy kiskutyával több? (children's album, 1987)
- Védőháló nélkül (1987)
- Attrakcio (compilation of hits from 1985–87, 1988)
- Vonalra várva (1988)
- Santa Maria és a többiek (collection of older hits from 1976–84, 1988)
- Abrakadabra (1989)
- The Best of Neoton Family (1989)
- Búcsú (live tribute to Dyord Yakab, 1996)
- The Best of Neoton Familia (Russian compilation, 1996)
- Búcsúzni csak szépen (live album, 1998)