The Voice from Our Village

Viktor Király is singing his way to the top

By Danielle Bitts

Great Neck’s Viktor Király has done some growing up. From drumming in his childhood garage bands to singing in a duo group with his twin brother, Király has been climbing the ladder for years. Today, you can see him every week on the nearest television, performing on NBC’s hit show, The Voice.

Király is a New York native whose parents are originally from Hungary. He was born in the Bronx, moving to Staten Island and eventually ending up in Great Neck. “I fell in love with music while I was growing up in New York,” he says.

Starting out, Király imagined he would grow up and become a drummer like his father, who was in a Hungarian band. So he did what any kid in his situation would do—he started a garage band. “We didn’t sound the greatest, even though we thought we did,” says Király. “After playing the drums for several years, I got into a situation that changed my musical life.”

The band was invited to play at his high school, Great Neck North. They rehearsed continuously to be as prepared as they possibly could, but they ran into a problem—their lead singer wouldn’t be able to make it to the show. When things looked uncertain for the band’s debut, a band mate turned to Király and said, “Vik, I hear you sing all the time by yourself, try a song!” As the saying goes, the rest is history.

Around the time Király turned 15, his family received heart-wrenching news. His mother was diagnosed with cancer. The family decided to pack up and head back to Hungary as his mother longed for her family and friends in her home country. Fortunately, she survived and is still with her family today.

Since his high school bash debut, Király has completely immersed himself in singing. First was a duo group with his twin brother, Ben, cleverly named Twinz. However, the two eventually went down different paths and Király took his career solo.

In 2008, Király decided to audition for an annual Hungarian talent show, Megasztar. Megasztar is a televised singing competition, similar to that of American Idol or ironically, The Voice. He wound up winning the entire show.

Király’s favorite career memory to date came in 2009. Király and his current band were given the opportunity to perform at an Open Air Festival that brought an audience of more than 50,000 people.

“I had been working for years before actually making my mark in the industry. Eventually, all the hard work paid off! I now have several songs that are rotated on national radio. I am very proud of what I have achieved in Hungary,” says Király.

As happy as Király was about his career in Hungary, it was time to make a splash in the States. “I always had this longing to go back to my home country…the place where I grew up,” says Király.

His sister, Linda, who is also a Hungarian pop singer/songwriter, helped kick-start his dream in the U.S. Without her brother knowing, Linda signed him up to audition for Season 9 of The Voice. Király is thankful that his sister gave him the push he needed. “She would always say to me, ‘You will never make it in America if you don’t try and, more importantly, believe in yourself.’”

Season 9 began on September 21 and the blind auditions did not disappoint, especially for Király. He performed Marvin Gaye’s “What’s Going On,” turning all four judges’ chairs, which viewers know is no easy feat.

Of the four celebrity judges, Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani, Pharrell Williams and Adam Levine, Király decided to join Team Adam. “I know I could learn from any of the coaches, but my choice landed on Adam. Once Adam expressed his determination to get me on his team, I felt like he was the right choice. I believe he is the perfect person to help build my confidence.”

Although the season is just getting started, Király has not only gained useful career connections for his future, but has created lifetime friendships. When asked what the best part of the experience on the show has been thus far, Király replied, “I honestly have to say it’s just being there among all of those talented artists, and, more importantly, the fact that I really feel I have made a few lifelong friends.”

The goal of every artist on The Voice may be the one thing they all have in common—and that’s winning. We sometimes forget that there’s much more than meets the eye when we turn on shows similar to The Voice. We don’t see the hours of work and sacrifice that each performer is putting in off camera. They all know that the ultimate goal won’t come easy.

So what’s it going to take? “A lot of discipline, sleepless nights and endurance,” says Király. “The fact that I have so much love radiating toward me from my family and friends helps me want to fight for more. So if their love and the fan support doesn’t stop, I won’t stop either. I hope The Voice will give me the opportunity to follow my dreams wherever it takes me.”

Help support this fellow Long Islander’s dream and watch him on The Voice, which airs on NBC Tuesdays at 8 p.m. and Wednesdays at 9 p.m.

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