Zeki Müren

Infobox musical artist
Name = Zeki Müren


Img_capt =
Background = solo_singer
Born = Birth date| 1931|12|6
Bursa
Died = Death date and age| 1996|9|24 | 1931|12|6
Origin = Turkey
Genre = Turkish classical music
Occupation = singer, songwriter
Years_active = 1950–1996
Web = [http://www.zekimuren.net Zeki Müren Net]
Label = 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.

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"Clarifyme|date=March 2008 . 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 homosexualShidfar, Farhad (2005). "Gay musicians in Turkey". "International Forum of Psychoanalysis", vol. 14(3-4) 224-226, Routledge, part of the Taylor & Francis Group, 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 homosexualityKaos GL (September 2005). "Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Rights in Turkey: An Overview". Report.. 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.Turkish Daily Sabah, [http://www.sabah.com.tr/ozel/zekimuren2778/dosya_2778.html Sanat Güneşi anılıyor] , December 6 2006. (In Turkish, last accessed July 8 2007).

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.

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)

ee also

* Turkish classical music
* Turkish music

References

; Sources consulted

; Endnotes

External links

* [http://www.zekimuren.net Zeki Müren Net]
* [http://www.sanatgunesi.com/ Sanatgunesi.com] - Zeki Müren fan site
* [http://www.videosofturkey.com/video_details.asp?id=172 Life story video of Zeki Müren]
* [http://www.cbel.net/albums/zeki_m%C3%BCren/ Discography of Zeki Müren]
* [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydmSoCse9gM A sample of Müren's music] on YouTube