| Branch of Art |
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Turkish classical music and Turkish folk music: singing, bağlama, tambur, violin, sitar, guitar, ney, piano, cumbus, oud, bouzouki, percussion |
| Art Profile |
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Orhan Gencebay was born in Samsun in 1944. He started his musical education at the age of six and took violin and mandolin classes from Emin Tarakçı. Gencebay then learned bağlama and studied traditional Turkish folk music until 12 years old. He also learned how to play tambur. At the age of ten, Gencebay composed his first work "Kara Kaşlı Esmerdi Kim Bilir Kimi Sevgi." While studying at a high school, he played tambur and bağlama in many classical and traditional Turkish folk music groups. He also organized music centers in Istanbul and Samsun where he taught music. Gencebay had an interest in Jazz and rock music and played tenor saxophone in some orchestras. He entered the Turkish Music Conservatory in Istanbul but did not continue.
After completing his military service, Gencebay worked as a bağlama player in the Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) in 1966. In 1967-1968 he played bağlama with Arif Sağ for many albums of various artists including Muzzafer Akgün, Yıldız Tezcan, Ahmet Sezgin, Şükran Ay, Sabahat Akkiraz and Nuri Sesigüzel. Gencebay worked as a music director for many films. In 1968 he started singing and released his first single album "Sensiz Bahar Geçmiyor / Başa Gelen Çekilirmiş." In 1970s he became very famous as a singer and continued to release many single albums.
In 1972 Gencebay established the Istanbul Record Company with Şahin Söğütoğlu and Yaşar Kekeva, and recorded many albums of famous musicians. In 1973 Gencebay dissolved the partnership and founded the Gencebay and Kekeva Kervan Record Company; and recorded various works of renowned artists such as Erkin Koray, Ajda Pekkan, Muazzez Abaci, Mustafa Sagyasar, Ahmet Ozhan, Kamuran Akkor, Semiha Yanki, Samime Sanay, Neşe Karaböcek, Bedia Akarturk, Nil Burak, Ziya Taskent, Semiramis Pekkan and Ferdi Ozbegen.
Gencebay has composed more than 1000 works and released 35 singles and 15 albums. He has also composed for 90 films. In 2015 he received the Presidential Culture and Art Grand Award. Besides his career as musician, he has acted leading roles in more than 36 films. Gencebay currently continues his work in Istanbul.
Reference: orhangencebay.com.tr, en.wikipedia.org |
