This song was written in 1933 By two Hungarians: Rezo Seress and Laszlo Javor. The song supposedly drew little attention until 1936, when it began to be connected with a rash of suicides in Hungary and was allegedly banned there. American musicians and singers soon jumped at the chance to record insturmental and translated versions of the "Hungarian Suicide Song" and by the end of 1936, Several recordings were available to American audiences.
The Billie Holiday version was recorded several years later, was probably the most popular English-Lanuage version of "Gloomy Sunday."
This song was written in 1933 By two Hungarians: Rezo Seress and Laszlo Javor. The song supposedly drew little attention until 1936, when it began to be connected with a rash of suicides in Hungary and was allegedly banned there. American musicians and singers soon jumped at the chance to record insturmental and translated versions of the "Hungarian Suicide Song" and by the end of 1936, Several recordings were available to American audiences. The Billie Holiday version was recorded several years later, was probably the most popular English-Lanuage version of "Gloomy Sunday."
http://www.snopes.com/music/songs/gloomy.asp
Hopefully this information is correct. But this site also has mor information about Rezo.. its quite intresting.
Emilie has done an outstanding job with this song.