George Batyi
Gypsy Music

The Gypsy Music Tradition in George Batyi’s Family:

George Batyi was born February 15, 1959 in Homestead Pennsylvania. Gypsy music has been a huge part of George Batyi’s family for generations. He writes that “My family is Gypsy. Sometimes people refer to us as Romani. There are lots of wrong ideas about gypsies. Sometimes people expect you to wear golden earrings or think that all gypsies live in trailers. There are gypsies that have more of that kind of lifestyle. I call them traveling Gypsies. My family, though, has lived in Homestead for years.”

Homestead, Pennsylvania was once the site of the largest steel plant in the world. His family came there from Kosice, (also known as Kaca) in Slovakia. Some of his family came to work in the steel industry, “and others came just because there were already family and friends here and they wanted to be around other people they knew.”

“Everyone in my family— my grandfathers, fathers, uncles and brothers— played Gypsy music. My grandfather on my father’s side played violin, and my grandfather on my mother’s side played clarinet. My uncle played viola, my father the saxophone and clarinet, my brothers the violin. I watched them play.”

George Batyi was so immersed in this music that he began playing violin by ear at age 5. He writes that “Most Gypsy musicians are good at playing by ear… By the time I was 7, the crowd would put me on a stage or table and throw me money while they listened to me play. Gypsy musician play at weddings, picnics, christenings, parties, funerals, and concerts. My family played for both Slovak and Hungarian events. When I went to these events, I would always listen to everyone else pay and I would learn the songs.” When Batyi was ten years old, his father put him into music lessons to learn to read music, something father could not do. Now he can both learn by ear and read music.

There are between modern Gypsy music and the traditional Gypsy music that his family plays. George Batyi plays both kinds. The difference lies in the types of instruments that are used as well as the style. Traditional groups have violin, viola, acoustic guitar & bass, and cimbalom (a stringed instrument on a soundbox, mounted on removable legs). Modern groups have electric guitar and bass, piano and drums. George Batyi is gifted at playing many instruments, including the violin, viola, electric bass, guitar and drums. He writes that “as the older Gypsies have died, the modern music has become more popular. I don’t mind it, but I don’t like it as much as the traditional music.”

To show the importance of music to George Batyi’s family, he shares this story; “My uncle Butch was a great violinist who knew many songs that other people didn’t know, and he was proud of this. When he died, a traditional Hungarian funeral was held for him. Musicians played at the church and then followed Uncle Butch’s casket to the graveyard. At the grave, my Uncle’s friend Greenie started playing a beautiful song on violin that nobody else knew. When he was done playing, everyone asked him where he had learned that song. He said ‘I don't know! I never played it until today!’ Everyone says that my uncle Butch showed all the musicians one last time that he knew more songs than they did!”

Bob Sestili writes that “People recognize not only his [George Batyi’s] tremendous technical and musical ability on the violin, but also his significance to the Gypsy, Slovak, and Hungarian communities. His family has been a stronghold of traditional music in the region since the early 1900s. Mr. Batyi continues to carry on that legacy.”

Through the music that George Batyi and his group, The Continental Gypsy Strings, plays at the Gypsy Café on Pittsburgh’s South Side, a diverse community of Eastern Europeans has been brought together. Their music provides an opportunity for listeners to remember, appreciate and understand this beautiful heritage and style of music.

George Batyi, Accomplishments

• Played at the Pittsburgh Folk Festival at the age of twelve.
• At the age of 16, played with his brother Cisco’s band, and soon became the band leader.
• Played in the Gypsy band “The Continental Dukes” for 25 years. Plays with the Continental Gypsy Strings
• Along with his group, was the featured act in the Blue Danube Restaurant in Windsor, Ontario for eight months, five nights a week.
• Performed at the annual Gypsy Festival in Taylor Michigan for eight years and lead the festival for the last three years.
• Staff musician for the Pittsburgh folk festival (played for whichever group needed a musician)
• Featured musician at the National Folk Festival in Johnstown in 1990
• Performs ever Thursday night with a group at the Gypsy Café on Pittsburgh’s South Side.
• Often featured at Pittsburgh’s Kennywood Park’s Slovak Day, and Hungarian Nights at Jozsa Corner Hungarian Restaurant in Pittsburgh’s Hazelwood neighborhood.
• Recorded on What’s Your Name? Rhymes and Rhythms from Pennsylvania Neighborhoods from On Tour Productions.
• Traveled with six musicians and twenty dancers from the group Slavjane to play for fifteen days in Presov and Medilevocshe. Were featured in two festivals and two concerts.
• Has preformed at Hungarian Day at Kennywood Park for fifteen consecutive years.