Neoton Familia

Neoton Família (also known in some countries as Newton Family) was one of the most successful Hungarian pop-bands, their carrier spanning several decades, with changes in line-up. Most active from 1977 to 1989, they released albums and singles and toured in 25 foreign countries, including Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, Italy, Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Canada, Cuba, Japan, India, South Korea, also producing many of the best-known hits in the country. From 1979 to 1989 the band sold over 6 millions records in Hungary and about 1.5 millions records in other countries and takes on this indicator second place behind the famous band Omega.

The band was founded in 1965 by László Pásztor and Lajos Galácz, studying economics in Budapest, in order to enter the school's annual Santa Claus music contest. Out of the two bands entering, Neoton, named after their Czechoslovakian-made guitar, finished second. Three years passed until their first major success, winning the country-wide Who Knows What? talent show in 1968 with the song Nekem eddig Bach volt a mindenem. The same year marked the release of their first hit song Kell, hogy várj. In 1971 they released their first album, Bolond város, featuring Balázs Ferenc, future keyboarder of the band Taurus, Lajos Som, future guitarist of the band Piramis, and Ferenc Debreceni, future drummer of the band Omega. While sales did not go well, it helped them to arrange a tour in Africa. After arriving home, some members quit, and the fate of Neoton became uncertain.

From 1973 to 77 they cooperated with girl band Kócbabák (Shaggy Dolls), a trio of three female singers, who first appeared at 1972's Who Knows What?. After a joint album Menedékház (1976, Forest Hut) they drew the attention of the head of the Hungarian Record Company Pepita, Péter Erdős, who dreamed of achieving international fame with a Hungarian group. The two groups were united, with a renewed style and under a new name, Neoton Família. In 1977 they released an album titled Csak a zene (Only the music) and toured in socialist countries.

1979 proved to be a turning point for Neoton Família, as they got the chance to accompany the Hungarian entrants at the Midem festival in Cannes, and could also play a few tracks of their own - gaining the interest of some foreign music industry officials. They released the album Napraforgó, which finally secured their fame, and later an English version Sunflower. It was released in thirteen countries and became a hit in Japan, Denmark and the Philippines. Their single "Santa Maria" was number one in Hungary, number eight in Spain and number nine in Japan and the second single "Lord of the mountain" was number eleven in Spain.

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Wikipedia