Déak Bill Gyula

Deák Bill Gyula stands as a veteran Hungarian blues singer whose professional path stretches across multiple decades. Prior to launching his independent work during the mid-1980s, he performed as a vocalist within the Hobo Blues Band, contributing to a string of their recordings. Born Deák Gyula on November 8, 1948, in Budapest, he absorbed the sounds of the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, Cream, the Doors, and other mid- to late-'60s rock outfits steeped in blues during his formative years. He entered the Hobo Blues Band lineup in 1979, two years after the group's formation, and remained its frontman for an extended stretch. His vocal contributions appear on the band's Középeurópai Hobo Blues (1980), Oly Sokáig Voltunk Lenn (1982), Még Élünk (1983), Vadászat (1984), Kopaszkutya (1993), and Csintalan Lányok, Rossz Fiúk (1994). Gyula stepped out on his own in 1984 via the album Rossz Vér and continued issuing solo efforts at intervals, including Mindhalálig Blues (1986), Bunön, Börtönön, Bánaton Túl (1993), Bort, Bluest, Békességet (1999), Bill Kapitány Blues Cirkusza (2001), and Hatvan Csapás (2008). By 2008 he had attained legendary stature throughout his native country, marking his 60th birthday with a landmark performance later issued as the CD/DVD set 60. Születésnapi Jubileumi Nagykoncert (2009).