Zeki Muren

Zeki Müren was a Turkish singer, composer, songwriter, actor and poet. Known by the nicknames "The Sun of Art" and "Pasha", he was one of the prominent figures of Turkish classical music. Due to his contributions to the art industry, he was named a "State Artist" in 1991. He was the first singer to receive a gold certification in Turkey and throughout his career recorded and released hundreds of songs on cassettes and phonograph records. Müren was born in the Hisar district of Bursa, at the wooden house number 30 on Ortapazar Road as the only child of Kaya and Hayriye Müren. His father was a timber merchant. He was a small and impatient boy. At the age of 11 he was circumcised in Bursa. Müren went to the Bursa Osmangazi School (later Tophane School and Alkıncı School). When he was at school, his musical ability was discovered by his teachers and he started to have a prominent role at school musicals. His first ever role was the character of a shepherd in one of these musicals. He finished his secondary school in Bursa and then asked his father to let him go to Istanbul. There he attended the Istanbul Boğaziçi High School. He finished the school and ended up as the number-one student. After passing his exams, he was enrolled at the Istanbul State Academy of Fine Arts (now Mimar Sinan University) where he studied decorative arts from 1950 to 1953. In 1950, while he was a university student, he took part at TRT Istanbul Radio's music competition and ranked number-one out of 186 contestants. On 1 January 1951, he had his first live performance on Istanbul Radio, which was praised by critics. During this performance, he was accompanied by musicians Hakkı Derman, Serif İçli, Şükrü Tunar, Refik Fersan and Necdet Gezen. Hamiyet Yüceses subsequently called the program and congratulated him on his performance. In those years, TRT Ankara Radio was the most listened radio in Anatolia, and Istanbul Radio could not be heard clearly from all parts of Anatolia. At the same week, the clarinetist Şükrü Tunar, took Müren to his own recording studio in Yeşilköy and he recorded his song "Muhabbet Kuşu" on phonograph record. Thanks to this record, Müren became known all over Anatolia. On 19 November 1953, Zeki Müren gave his first concert at the Great Cinema in Atatürk Boulevard. He was the first Turkish singer to perform in a tuxedo. He was also the first singer to use the microphone on stage. He was very successful and soon became a star. He was invited to many concerts and events. He also started to act in films and theater productions. He starred in 18 films, mostly musicals, and wrote the songs for most of them. He also composed music for other singers, such as Müzeyyen Senar, Bülent Ersoy, and Emel Sayın. He was influenced by Western music and introduced new elements to Turkish classical music, such as the piano, the guitar, and the saxophone. He also experimented with different genres, such as pop, rock, and jazz. He was known for his unique style, which blended traditional Turkish music with Western pop influences. He also wrote many of his own songs, which often explored themes of love, heartbreak, and longing. Müren was also a poet and published six poetry books. His poems were mostly lyrical and romantic, reflecting his personal feelings and experiences. He also wrote poems about social issues, such as poverty, war, and injustice. He was influenced by Turkish poets such as Yahya Kemal Beyatlı, Necip Fazıl Kısakürek, and Orhan Veli Kanık. He also admired French poets such as Charles Baudelaire, Arthur Rimbaud, and Paul Verlaine. He was awarded the Golden Orange Award for his poetry book "Bir Tatlı Tebessüm" (A Sweet Smile) in 1971. Müren was a cultural icon and a symbol of Turkish identity. He was admired by people from different backgrounds, ages, and regions. He was also a pioneer of gender expression and queer culture in Turkey. He was known for his flamboyant and androgynous appearance, which challenged the norms of Turkish society. He wore makeup, jewelry, and extravagant costumes on stage and in public. He also used feminine gestures and language in his performances and interviews. He never openly declared his sexual orientation, but he was widely speculated to be gay or bisexual. He was a role model and an inspiration for many LGBT people in Turkey, who saw him as a figure of courage and freedom. During the last 6 years of his life, Müren was away from the scenes and the media due to heart disease and diabetes. He was retired at his house in Bodrum. He described this period as a time for "listening to oneself". On 24 September 1996, during the ceremony held for him at TRT İzmir Television, he had a heart attack and died. His funeral was attended by thousands of people who mourned his death. He was buried at the Emir Sultan Cemetery in his hometown Bursa. He was honored with many awards and tributes after his death. He was declared a "State Artist" by the Ministry of Culture in 1998. He was also commemorated with statues, museums, and festivals in various cities. His songs and poems are still popular and influential today.