Musician, role model, technical expert, university lecturer, founder of the Benkó Dixieland Band
(1940 – 2015)
Musician, role model,
engineering professional,
university lecturer,
founder of the
Benkó Dixieland Band
(1940 – 2015)
One must live a full life!
“I believe one must live a full life, and for me music has always been a wonderful support in this. Work is my vocation, and I very much enjoy teaching. The fundamental rhythm of my life is determined by my family, while music gives me my sense of balance. Since my high school years, I have always had some kind of public responsibility, usually with countless difficulties. Just as the applause on stage, and the solving of problems in scientific life, so too in public service it is the resolved matters that bring peace and joy. I am not satisfied, but I feel happy, since I belong to those rare people who can spend their entire lives doing what they love. And that is a great gift!”
Sándor Benkó, 1982
Music is my everything, and I’ll play it until my last breath!
August 25, 1940
Born in Budapest
1945
His military officer father passes away.
1946
He starts playing the violin.
1954
He was a competitive swimmer, but due to a sinus infection he had to give up the sport. At that point, he received a clarinet as a gift and began playing it. His teacher was the elder Kálmán Berkes.
1955
He discovers Dixieland music (he acquires Ambassador Satch by Louis Armstrong).
1957
He founds his band, the Benkó Dixieland Band (BDB).
Sándor Benkó
– His Youth, Studies, and Musical Career –
Biography
At the age of six, he was already playing the violin, and from the age of fourteen he played the clarinet. While still in secondary school, he performed during class breaks with Jenő Nagy (1940–2023), his future banjo player—their duo was hugely successful…
The Engineer
He attended the Bláthy Ottó Technical School in Óbuda, then continued his studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Budapest University of Technology, graduating in 1963. From 1964 onward, he was already a lecturer at the Department of Electric Machines…
The Musician
As a young man, he was a competitive swimmer, but in 1954 he had to give up the sport due to a sinus infection. At that time, he received a clarinet as a gift, which he immediately grew to love…
Biography
At the age of six, he was already playing the violin, and from the age of fourteen he played the clarinet. While still in secondary school, he performed during class breaks with Jenő Nagy (1940–2023), his future banjo player—their duo was hugely successful…
The Engineer
He attended the Bláthy Ottó Technical School in Óbuda, then continued his studies at the Faculty of Electrical Engineering of the Budapest University of Technology, graduating in 1963. From 1964 onward, he was already a lecturer at the Department of Electric Machines…
The Musician
As a young man, he was a competitive swimmer, but in 1954 he had to give up the sport due to a sinus infection. At that time, he received a clarinet as a gift, which he immediately grew to love…
Benkó Dixieland Band
Benkó
Dixieland Band
– The Story –
The Beginnings
Their Successes
The Golden Line-up
Worldwide
In the New Millennium
In Numbers
The Beginnings
Their Successes
The Golden Line-up
Worldwide
Az új
évezredben
Számok
tükrében
The Beginnings
Their Successes
The Golden Line-up
Worldwide
In the New Millennium
In Numbers
The Golden Line-up
Worldwide