Leslie Mándoki

Leslie Mándoki
Background information
Birth name	Mándoki László
Born	(1953-01-07) 7 January 1953 Budapest, Hungary
Occupation(s)	Singer, drummer, record producer
Instruments	Percussion
Associated acts	Dschinghis Khan, Man Doki
Website	www.mandoki.net

Leslie Mandoki, Mike Stern, Nik Kershaw and Chris Thompson performing at Várkert Bazár,Budapest

Leslie Mándoki (Mándoki László) (born 7 January 1953 in Budapest, Hungary) is a Hungarian musician who performed for the music group Dschinghis Khan and as a solo artist.

Mándoki studied drums and percussion at the musical conservatory of Budapest in the early 1970s. At the same time he was a band leader for the local jazz-rock group JAM, citing groups like Cream and Jethro Tull as his influence.

In July 1975, Mándoki, along with Gábor Csupó and others, fled from Hungary to Munich, Germany to avoid prosecution by the communist government for being a member of the student opposition.

Discography

• Back to myself (1982)
• Strangers in a Paradise (1988)
  Tracks:
  1. On Principle, 5:24 (Mandoki/Bencker)
  2. Love Song, 4:37 (Mandoki/Bencker)
  3. I am over you, Honey, 4:18 (Mandoki/Bencker)
  4. Strangers in a Paradise, 6:15 (Mandoki/Bencker)
  5. We need a second Chance, 4:49 (Mandoki/Bencker)
  6. Korea, 6:01 (Mandoki/Bencker)
  7. Deadly Angel, 3:53 (Mandoki/Bencker)
  8. We'll fall in Love again, 5:37 (Mandoki/Bencker)
  9. I wanna get back home, 5:12 (Mandoki/Bencker)
  10. Lost in Time, 6:56 (Mandoki/Bencker)
• Out of Key … with the Time (1991)
  Tracks:
  1. Blind to Reason
  2. Light in the Dark
  3. Sad Song
  4. I feel the Heat again
  5. Refugees
  6. With Tears in my Eyes
  7. Big Brother is watching you
  8. Sealed in the past Time Paradise
  9. Lonely Eyes
  10. Boxing Shadows
  11. The End of the Road
• People (1993)
  Tracks:
  1. On the edge of Hell
  2. Hold on to your Dreams
  3. I dance through my Dreams
  4. Carry me home
  5. Blue Mood
  6. Life is like a strange Song
  7. Imagine
  8. Mother Europe
  9. Why don't you stop
  10. In Times of Change
  11. Love and Money
  12. Last Night
• People in Room No. 8 (1996)
  Tracks:
  1. Let the Music show you the Way
  2. The Journey is long
  3. On and on
  4. Diggin' down too deep
  5. Nothing or everything
  6. I believe
  7. Am I strong enough
  8. Everyday
  9. Borrowed Love
  10. Where I was born
  11. Reborn Desire
  12. Rainbow Angel
  13. Never give in
  14. If we try
  15. Back to Budapest
  16. Hold on to your Dreams
• Soulmates (2002)
  Tracks:
  1. Crossing the Timeline
  2. Daydream
  3. Highest Hopes and darkest Fears
  4. A Dreamer's not a Fool
  5. Look up to the Sky
  6. The endless Power of Change
  7. Playing with the Time
  8. One Night a Day
  9. Is there a Dream left
  10. I lost my heart in China
  11. Pictures of Life
  12. Room No. 8
  13. Last Day of Summer
• Soulmates – Jazz Cuts (2003)
  Tracks:
  1. Pictures of Life
  2. Carry me home
  3. Life is like a strange Song
  4. Look up to the Sky
  5. Still running wild
  6. A pale blue fragile Day
  7. Highest Hopes and Darkest Fears
  8. We're not young enough to know everything
  9. Room No. 8
  10. Look up to the Sky (Reprise)
• Soulmates – Classic, adapted for String Quartet (2003)
  Tracks:
  1. Crossing the Timeline
  2. Daydream
  3. Highest Hopes and darkest Fears
  4. A Dreamer's not a Fool
  5. Look up to the Sky
  6. The endless Power of Change
  7. Playing with the Time
  8. One Night a Day
  9. Is there a Dream left
  10. I lost my heart in China
  11. Pictures of Life
  12. Room No. 8
  13. Last Day of Summer

Producer

Mandoki has rented the Park Studios near Lake Starnberg. He has worked as a producer for many German and international acts, including No Angels, Phil Collins, Engelbert, Joshua Kadison, Lionel Richie and Jennifer Rush. He also worked as a musical director for commercials, with clients Audi, Daimler and Disney.

Television

Dschinghis Khan was the German entry for the Eurovision Song Contest 1979, finishing on 4th place.

He performed on 15 episodes of the music show "ZDF Hitparade" with Dschinghis Khan between 1979 and 1982.

In 2003 he played a guest role on three episodes of the German teenager television series Schloss Einstein.

In April and November 2004 Mandoki produced and guest-starred in a band dubbed Soulmates together with many acclaimed international artists in the two-part television show "50 Jahre Rock" (50 years of rock) on ZDF hosted by Thomas Gottschalk. Material from these shows was later used for the album "Legends of Rock".

Awards

• Order of Merit of the Republic of Hungary (2012)

External links

• Official Website
• Legends of Rock
• Biography
• Leslie Mándoki (The Internet Movie Database, IMDB)