Neset Ertas

Neşet Ertaş was a Turkish folk singer, lyricist, modern ashik and virtuoso of the traditional Turkish instrument the bağlama. He was the son of Muharrem Ertaş, a renowned folk poet and musician of the Abdal tradition. He learned to play the violin and the bağlama from his father, and accompanied him to various wedding ceremonies and local events in Central Anatolia. He did not attend formal education, but he developed his musical skills and repertoire by listening to the radio and records. He moved to Istanbul and then Ankara, where he performed at night clubs and radio stations. He became famous for his distinctive voice and style, as well as his original compositions and poems. He used the pseudonym "Garip" (meaning "stranger" or "miserable") to sign his works. He recorded many albums and influenced many Turkish folk singers. He also taught bağlama at a German school of arts for two years. He suffered from finger paralysis and prostate cancer in his later years, and died in 2012 in Izmir. He was buried in his hometown of Çiçekdağı, next to his father's grave. He was honored with various awards and titles, such as the State Medal of Distinguished Service, the UNESCO National Living Human Treasure, and the honorary doctorate from Istanbul Technical University. He was also known as "Bozkırın Tezenesi" (Plectrum of the Steppe), a nickname given by the writer Yaşar Kemal. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest representatives of the Turkish folk music and Abdal culture.