He created a number of popular melodic compositions, including the one to Mihály Vörösmarty's patriotic poem Szózat.

Egressy was born in 1814 in Sajókazinc, today a part of Kazincbarcika, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County, Hungary, to a Protestant pastor.

He entered the stage in 1834, like his older brother Gábor Egressy, and in 1837 became a member of the national theatre in Prague.

Nevertheless, he composed music for "Szózat", a famous poem by Hungarian poet Mihály Vörösmarty.

He also wrote the libretti for Ferenc Erkel's first three operas (Bátori Mária, Hunyadi László, Bánk bán).