Safiye Ayla (July 14, 1907 in İstanbul - January 14, 1998 in İstanbul) was one of the most famous singers of Turkish classical music.
She began her musical education as a piano student. She studied under Mustada Sunar and was a teacher herself until she began to sing as a soloist in some of the most important casinos of her time.
She worked with some of the most important artists of her time, including Yesari Asım Arsoy, Hafız Ahmet Irsoy, Selahattin Pınar, Saadettin Kaynak and Udi Nevres Bey. She gave a performance for Atatürk in 1932 and became one of his favorite singers.
In 1950, she married the artist Şerif Muhiddin Targan. Countless of her concerts were broadcast on Turkish radio, and she made more than 500 recordings.
Safiye Ayla became the most famous and successful singer of her time by means of her singing style, which was somewhat influenced by western styles. She could reach the highest pitches and paid special attention to pronunciation. Her repertoire included classical, modern, and popular music, so she was able to reach a broad public.
By writing "Seninle doğan gündür bu gönül" und "Aşk yaprağına konarak koza öresim gelir", she showed her own songwriting talent. In 1942, she played Queen Mimoza onstage in the play "Alabanda".
Safiye Ayla is considered, along with Müzeyyen Senar and Hamiyet Yüceses, to be the "Üç dev Çınar" (three great maples).