Rezső Seress, born on November 3, 1899, in Budapest, was a Hungarian pianist and composer known for his poignant and melancholic compositions. His most famous work, "Gloomy Sunday," written in 1933, became infamously associated with a series of suicides, earning it the nickname "The Hungarian Suicide Song." Despite its global recognition, Seress chose to remain in Hungary, working as a pianist at the Kispipa restaurant in Budapest, rather than collecting royalties abroad.

Seress's life was marked by hardship and tragedy. During World War II, he was taken to a Nazi labor camp but survived, though his mother did not. This personal loss, combined with the waning of his fame and his disillusionment with the communist party, led him into a deep depression.

Seress lived most of his life in poverty, and his loyalty to Hungary kept him from pursuing opportunities in the United States. He taught himself to play the piano with one hand and composed numerous songs, including "Fizetek főúr" and "Én úgy szeretek részeg lenni."

On January 12, 1968, Seress committed suicide in Budapest. After surviving a jump from his apartment window, he later took his life in the hospital. His obituary in The New York Times highlighted the notorious reputation of "Gloomy Sunday" and its alleged connection to a wave of suicides in the 1930s. Despite the song's ban in Hungary and restrictions in America, its haunting melody and somber lyrics left an indelible mark on music history.