Zeki Müren

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Zeki Müren
Zeki Müren on the cover of his 1977 album Nazar Boncuğu.
Zeki Müren on the cover of his 1977 album Nazar Boncuğu.
Background information
Born December 6 1931 ( 1931-12-06)
Bursa
Origin Flag of Turkey Turkey
Died September 24 1996 (aged 64)
Genre(s) Turkish classical music
Occupation(s) singer, songwriter
Years active 1950–1996
Label(s) Grafson Plak, Coşkun Plak LP, Kalan, Türküola LP, Minareci Kaset, Sahibinin Sesi Greece, Balkan Plak, Yavuz Plak, Lider Plak, Elenor LP

Zeki Müren (1931–1996) was a prominent Turkish singer, composer and actor. He was famous for his compelling voice and precise articulation in his singing of both established Turkish classical music and contemporary songs.

Contents

[edit] Biography

Müren grew up in the provincial capital city of Bursa in western Turkey. From 1950 to 1953 he studied decorative arts in Istanbul at the Fine Arts Academy while launching his musical career. Müren’s first album was issued in 1951, at which time he was a regular singer on Istanbul Radio. In 1955, he produced his first Gold Record.

In his forty-five-year professional career Müren composed more than one hundred songs and made more than two hundred recordings. He was celebrated as the "Sun" of classical Turkish music and was affectionately called "Pasha". For many years he reigned as "Artist of the Year"[clarify]. Many of Müren's records were also published in Greece, where he also enjoyed popularity, along with the U.S., Germany, and several other countries during the 1960s and 1970s.

Müren was also a gifted poet, publishing Bıldırcın Yağmuru (The Quail Rain) in 1951. Additionally, he acted in Turkish cinema, starring in eighteen films and writing many of their musical scores. Even though he did not consider himself a painter, he painted as a hobby.

Müren dressed effeminately, wearing large, ornate rings and heavy make up, especially in the later years of his life. Popular opinion holds that he was homosexual[1], although he never made a public statement nor denial to this effect. In many ways, he had a pioneering role in rendering the Turkish society more accepting about homosexuality[2]. He, with his distinct style, remained a highly respected artist throughout his career, and in a sense, paved the way for many later, more openly gay or transsexual Turkish artists.

He died of a heart attack during a live performance on stage in the city of İzmir on September 24, 1996. His death caused the greatest public grief in years and thousands of Turks attended his funeral. Zeki Müren Art Museum, established in Bodrum, where Müren used to live, has been visited by more than 200 thousand people between its opening on June 8, 2000 and December 2006.[3]

[edit] Discography

Albums published during his lifetime
  • 1970 Senede Bir Gün
  • 1973 Pırlanta 1
  • 1973 Pırlanta 2
  • 1973 Pırlanta 3
  • 1973 Pırlanta 4
  • 1973 Hatıra
  • 1974 Anılarım
  • 1975 Mücevher
  • 1976 Güneşin Oğlu
  • 1979 Nazar Boncuğu
  • 1980 Sükse
  • 1981 Kahır Mektubu
  • 1982 Eskimeyen Dost
  • 1984 Hayat Öpücüğü
  • 1985 Masal
  • 1986 Helal Olsun
  • 1987 Aşk Kurbanı
  • 1988 Gözlerin Doğuyor Gecelerime
  • 1989 Ayrıldık İşte
  • 1989 Karanlıklar Güneşi
  • 1989 Zirvedeki Şarkılar
  • 1989 Dilek Çeşmesi
  • 1990 Bir Tatlı Tebessüm
  • 1991 Doruktaki Nağmeler
  • 1992 Sorma
Albums published posthumously
  • 2000 Muazzez Abacı & Zeki Müren Düet
  • 2005 Selahattin Pınar Şarkıları
  • 2005 Sadettin Kaynak Şarkıları
  • 2005 Zeki Müren: 1955-1963 Kayıtları
  • 2006 Batmayan Güneş

In addition to these, there are 12 other albums attributed to Zeki Müren published during 1968–1974 by Grafson Plak.

[edit] Filmography

International titles are given in parentheses.

  • 1953 Beklenen Şarkı ("Awaited Song")
  • 1955 Son Beste (The Last Musical Composition)
  • 1957 Berduş (The Vagabond)
  • 1958 Altın Kafes (The Golden Cage)
  • 1959 Kırık Plak (The Broken Disk)
  • 1959 Gurbet ("Foreign Place")
  • 1961 Aşk Hırsızı (The Love Thief)
  • 1962 Hayat Bazen Tatlıdır (Sometimes Life Is Enjoyable)
  • 1963 Bahçevan (The Gardener)
  • 1964 İstanbul Kaldırımları (Pavements of Istanbul)
  • 1965 Hep O Şarkı ("Always That Song")
  • 1966 Düğün Gecesi (The Wedding Night)
  • 1967 Hindistan Cevizi (The Coconut)
  • 1968 Katip ("Secretary")
  • 1969 Kalbimin Sahibi ("Owner Of My Heart")
  • 1969 İnleyen Nağmeler
  • 1970 Aşktan da Üstün ("Fallen Out Of Love")
  • 1971 Rüya Gibi ("Like A Dream)

[edit] See also

[edit] References

Sources consulted
 This section does not cite any references or sources. (August 2007)
Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed.
Endnotes
  1. ^ Shidfar, Farhad (2005). "Gay musicians in Turkey". International Forum of Psychoanalysis, vol. 14(3-4) 224-226, Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group
  2. ^ Kaos GL (September 2005). "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Rights in Turkey: An Overview". Report.
  3. ^ Turkish Daily Sabah, Sanat Güneşi anılıyor, December 6, 2006. (In Turkish, last accessed July 8, 2007).

[edit] External links