Béla Szakcsi Lakatos (8 July 1943 – 2 October 2022), also known by the mononyms Szakcsi or Sa-Chi, was a Hungarian jazz pianist, keyboardist, arranger and composer.
Born in Budapest, Szakcsi Lakatos studied at the and started his professional career in the mid-sixties.[1] In the 1970s he was part of the Aladár Pege’s quartet, with whom he performed at the Montreux Jazz Festival to great critical acclaim.[2] Later he was part of the bands Rákfogó and Saturnus, as well as leader of his own ensemble. He recorded 16 albums and composed several musicals.
Szakcsi is regarded as a key figure in promoting the jazz and fusion genres in Hungary. During his career he received numerous honours and accolades, including the Kossuth Prize and the title of .[3] He died on 2 October 2022, at the age of 79.[4]